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Does certified food production reduce agrochemical use in China?

Author

Listed:
  • Zihan Nie
  • Nico Heerink
  • Qin Tu
  • Shuqin Jin

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of adopting certified food production on chemical fertilizer and pesticide use in China. Design/methodology/approach - The authors estimate fixed effect models to track the changes in agrochemical consumption at household level over time and evaluate the effect of certified food production, using an unbalanced panel data set covering 4,830 households in six provinces over the period 2005–2013. Findings - On average, the authors do not find significant effects of certified food production on either chemical fertilizer or pesticide consumption among Chinese farmers. The effects are heterogeneous across villages, but the heterogeneous effects show no clear pattern that is consistent with different types of certification. The findings are robust to the use of alternative panel structure and certification indicators. The lack of knowledge about certification among farmers, the price premium and differences in regulation enforcement across regions may explain why the authors do not find negative effects on agrochemical use. Practical implications - This study suggests that careful inspections and strong enforcement of certified food production is needed to ensure that the environmental goals of certified food production can be achieved and the reputation of certification in China can be improved. The inspection of certification producers and the enforcement of current regulations should be stricter for the further healthy development of certified food production in China. Originality/value - This study is the first attempt to systematically evaluate the impact of food certification on the use of agrochemicals in Chinese agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Zihan Nie & Nico Heerink & Qin Tu & Shuqin Jin, 2018. "Does certified food production reduce agrochemical use in China?," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(3), pages 386-405, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:caerpp:caer-11-2016-0190
    DOI: 10.1108/CAER-11-2016-0190
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Wanglin Ma & Hongyun Zheng, 2022. "Heterogeneous impacts of information technology adoption on pesticide and fertiliser expenditures: Evidence from wheat farmers in China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(1), pages 72-92, January.
    2. Min Su & Nico Heerink & Peter Oosterveer & Tao Tan & Shuyi Feng, 2021. "Impacts of China’s Minimum Grain Procurement Price Program on Agrochemical Use: A Household-Level Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Zeng, Yangyi & Herzfeld, Thomas, 2021. "The effects of mental budgeting on the intentions to switch to low-toxicity pesticides: Evidence from vegetable farmers in Sichuan, China," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(3).
    4. Ninson, Jacqueline & Quansah, Alex & Kwapong, Keneth, 2022. "Farmers’ Knowledge On Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) Pesticide Application And Its Relationship With Quantity Of Maize That Is Lost To Fall Armyworm," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 16(1), June.
    5. Ma, Wanglin & Zheng, Hongyun, 2021. "Impacts of Smartphone Use on Agrochemical Use Among Wheat Farmers in China: A Heterogeneous Analysis," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 314991, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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