Research, productivity, and output growth in Chinese agriculture

Fan, Shenggan; Pardey, Philip G.

doi:10.1016/s0304-3878(97)00005-9

Cited by 200 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…For the global case, a slightly more conservative assumption that 70% of all public and private research was relevant to yield improvements gives a cumulative 45-year total of $806 billion in agricultural investments. Various estimates of factor productivity in agriculture estimate that research and development (R&D) accounts for around one-third of productivity growth (32)(33)(34)(35). Attributing 34% of productivity growth (and thus carbon savings, or ∼36 tC/ha) to agricultural R&D and assuming that 70% of R&D is relevant to farm productivity gives a carbon price of $14.74 in AW1 and $27.43 in AW2 (per metric ton of carbon; plotted triangle).…”

Section: Aw1 Scenario (Upper Estimates)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Greenhouse gas mitigation by agricultural intensification

Burney

Davis

Lobell

2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

892

474

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As efforts to mitigate climate change increase, there is a need to identify cost-effective ways to avoid emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Agriculture is rightly recognized as a source of considerable emissions, with concomitant opportunities for mitigation. Although future agricultural productivity is critical, as it will shape emissions from conversion of native landscapes to food and biofuel crops, investment in agricultural research is rarely mentioned as a mitigation strategy. Here we estimate the net effect on GHG emissions of historical agricultural intensification between 1961 and 2005. We find that while emissions from factors such as fertilizer production and application have increased, the net effect of higher yields has avoided emissions of up to 161 gigatons of carbon (GtC) (590 GtCO 2 e) since 1961. We estimate that each dollar invested in agricultural yields has resulted in 68 fewer kgC (249 kgCO 2 e) emissions relative to 1961 technology ($14.74/tC, or ∼$4/tCO 2 e), avoiding 3.6 GtC (13.1 GtCO 2 e) per year. Our analysis indicates that investment in yield improvements compares favorably with other commonly proposed mitigation strategies. Further yield improvements should therefore be prominent among efforts to reduce future GHG emissions.agriculture | greenhouse gas emissions | land use change | climate change mitigation | carbon price

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Section: Aw1 Scenario (Upper Estimates)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Greenhouse gas mitigation by agricultural intensification

Burney

Davis

Lobell

2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

892

474

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In general, the returns to agricultural development assistance have been positive, despite occasional failures resulting from poorly designed projects and policies. And within the broad category of agricultural development, agricultural research is often cited as the single, best investment in terms of increasing productivity and reducing poverty (Fan and Pardey 1997;Fan 2000;Fan et al 2000).…”

Section: Donor Funding Priorities Are Not Consistent With the Diet Trmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural policy and nutrition outcomes – getting beyond the preoccupation with staple grains

2015

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There is a growing disconnect between agricultural policy and contemporary nutritional challenges, the persistent problem of micronutrient malnutrition and child stunting, as well as the emerging challenges of overweight and obesity. Diversification of production systems and the market supply of enhanced diversity will only happen when the current distortions to farm and market level incentives are corrected. Data on the diet transition that is taking place across the developing world is presented and the growing divergence between staple crop demand and supply trends discussed. The reasons for the low producer response to rising demand for non-staple food, such as vegetables, are examined. Finally, the paper presents the main elements of a crop neutral agricultural policy, one that creates a level playing field which allows farmers to respond to market signals rather than a policy that is biased toward a particular set of crops.

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“…As China is the most populous country in the world, its food security has been a primary concern of researchers and politicians for decades (Brown, 1995;Fan and Pardey, 1997;Zhu, 2004;Feng et al, 2005;Xu et al, 2006;Chen, 2007;Qiu and Liu, 2008). China's rapid economic development since the nation's opening up to the outside world has stimulated industrialization, urbanization, and infrastructure development, but this progress has also been accompanied by soil erosion and desertification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%