Improving agricultural green total factor productivity in China: do environmental governance and green low-carbon policies matter?

An integrated framework for improving green agricultural production sustainability in human-natural systems

Water scarcity, land pollution, and global warming are serious challenges and crises facing the development of sustainable or green agriculture and need to be addressed using efficient and environmentally friendly management strategies. This paper proposed an integrated framework appropriate for agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) assessment coupled with microscopic and mesoscopic perspectives under water-energy-food (WEF) nexus, which generated scientific and reasonable strategies for green and low-carbon agriculture from internal core factors and peripheral environmental impacts to improve green agricultural production sustainability. Taking the Lianshui irrigation district (LID) with three sub-areas as the object, internal core factors were explored by partial least squares regression (PLSR) and the external impact path through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicated that AGTFP in LID was the smallest (0.818) compared to the three sub-areas and was in a fluctuating state. Meanwhile, AGTFP which was calculated considering undesirable outputs, was closer to tangible productivity. Resource endowments and technical facilities will promote agricultural production, desirable outputs will stimulate green production, and undesirable outputs can inhibit green production. The external influence pathway was shown to be primary environment - > secondary environment - > economic aspects - > social aspects - > AGTFP. The innovative perspectives presented in this study can facilitate preferable decisions and avoid unintended consequences for human-natural systems.

Revisiting the nexus between digital trade, green technological innovation, and environmental sustainability in BRICS economies

After the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, many countries started progressing towards race to zero targets. The intricate framework of digitalization and green technologies has the potential to persuade governments to implement policies that promote a zero-carbon economy, i.e., green economy. Hence, this study determines the effect of digital trade (DGT) and green technological innovation (GTI) on environmental sustainability (ENS) by considering the role of renewable energy consumption (REC), globalization (GLOB), and economic growth (EG). The study measured ENS by taking into account three proxy variables, i.e., ecological footprint (EF), carbon dioxide emission (CO2e), and methane emissions (CH4e). POLS and PMG-ARDL techniques are applied to the panel data of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) from 2000 to 2019. Panel Quantile Regression (PQR) along with AMG and CCEMG estimators is applied hereafter for checking the robustness of the empirical results. The long-run empirical outcomes show the positive association of DGT, GTI, REC, and GLOB with ENS. Lastly, this study inscribed the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and highlights policy implications and governmental measures to ensure environmental sustainability in BRICS economies.

The green productivity of broiler production in China: Considering the resource utilization of manure

Resource constraints and environmental challenges have emerged as serious impediments to the sustainable development of China's broiler industry, with potentially adverse consequences. The pursuit of sustainable development in China's broiler industry is predicated on significant reductions in manure and pollutant emissions from broiler farming. This study utilizes the slacks-based model and the global Malmquist-Luenberger index to calculate the green total factor productivity of broiler breeding across various provinces and scales from 2005 to 2020 within a joint production framework of considering undesirable outputs and desirable outputs. Fluctuations in economic distribution of broiler breeding are characterized using the kernel density estimation, and a convergence analysis is performed via absolute and conditional β convergence methods. The results revealed an overall upward trend in China's broiler farming green total factor productivity from 2005 to 2020, corresponding to green total factor productivity in small-, medium-, and large-scale broiler breeding were 1.015, 1.017, and 1.009, respectively. The kernel density curve implies a narrowing trend in the discrepancy of green total factor productivity levels among provinces in broiler breeding of varying scales. For all scales, broiler breeding's green total factor productivity demonstrates considerable conditional and absolute β convergence. Therefore, improving the efficiency of broiler breeding while addressing externalities requires the cultivation of broilers at different scales across diverse regions, coupled with an increased focus on improving the utility efficiency of broiler waste fertilization.

The role of agricultural machinery in improving green grain productivity in China: Towards trans-regional operation and low-carbon practices

Agricultural machinery is effective in improving food production and labor productivity, but it also raises environmental concerns. The impacts of agricultural machinery on the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of grain in China are still under debate in the scientific literature. This study proposed an integrated framework for confronting this issue. The findings suggest that both agricultural mechanization and the GTFP of grain demonstrate a consistent upward trend with moderate fluctuations between 2001 and 2019. By expanding the spatial pattern, there is a positive spatial correlation between them. In addition, we compared the results in three grain functional areas by using the spatial Durbin model (SDM). There were significantly positive spatial spillover effects in major grain-producing areas, which were attributed to the trans-regional operation of agricultural machinery and its carbon reduction effects on neighboring provinces. Notably, the direct effects in major grain-marketing areas and producing-marketing balance areas were significantly positive because agricultural machinery has played a critical role in filling the gap in local labor shortages in grain production. Accordingly, adaptive strategies including building the "Internet + agricultural machinery operation" platform, implementing the land consolidation suitable for machinery, and developing low-carbon agricultural machinery should be fully considered by Chinese policy-makers to promote mechanized agriculture and a low-carbon economy. The findings of this study can help us better understand the role of agricultural machinery in improving green grain productivity in China and thus have significance for the modern and green transformation of agricultural production systems.