Research & reports

刘喜高, 李一 · 农村工作通讯 · China (Qingdao)

Huangdao District in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, has accelerated agricultural transformation and structural adjustment in recent years, following principles of "planning first, government guidance, enterprise as主体, and social participation." Leveraging its resource advantages of mountains, sea, water, forests, and land, Huangdao District is vigorously developing tourism-oriented and eco-tourism modern urban agricultural parks, promoting the upgrade of the agricultural structure. This has driven increased agricultural production and efficiency, and sustained income growth for farmers.

Yan Zeng · Nongye xiandaihua yanjiu · China

Guangzhou's urbanization necessitates modern urban agriculture, which has evolved from suburban agriculture to a modern form characterized by intensification, marketization, industrialization, high technology, and mechanization. While modern urban agriculture in Guangzhou possesses internal advantages and faces significant opportunities, its development is constrained by internal weaknesses and external threats. To advance sustainable development, improvements are needed in layout, ecological environment protection, agricultural standardization, optimization of agricultural industry structure, agricultural brand and logistics system construction, and investment and financing mechanisms.

LI Mei-zhang · Anhui nongye kexue · China

The multiple functions of agriculture (economic, social, ecological, and cultural) in the Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone were introduced. To maximize the overall benefits of multi-functional agriculture, its layout must adhere to principles such as multi-interaction, moderate scale, land space division, and coordinated development and growth. The eco-economic zone can be divided into areas of production agriculture, ecological tourism, urban agriculture, and characteristic agriculture, with each area having distinct agricultural growth points.

黄卫国 · 杭州农业与科技 · China

In Xihu District, the construction of "urban agricultural fine product zones" is promoted as part of building a modern industrial system and "five zones". Recently, the Xihu District Committee and government have leveraged policy, brand, environmental, and resource advantages to focus on developing these zones, fostering the continuous and healthy development of urban agriculture.

Wu, De-Hui, Wu, De-Hui · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · China (Zhengzhou)

This paper analyzes the competitive power of Zhengzhou urban agriculture from the perspectives of production factors, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, business strategies and structure, and horizontal competition, based on the basic theory of the Diamond Model. It introduces cluster development as an effective approach to enhancing the competitive power of Zhengzhou urban agriculture. Finally, it presents countermeasures and suggestions such as optimizing spatial distribution for cluster development, cultivating leading enterprises, optimizing organizational forms, and actively developing low-carbon agriculture.

叶林, 魏皓严 · 规划师 · China (Meishan)

The design of the Meishan "China Pickled Vegetable City" urban agricultural base proposed a design concept from the composite perspectives of spatial, industrial, and landscape systems, aiming to maintain ecological patterns, promote industrial integration, and continue rural landscape characteristics. By strengthening the ecological, production, and living functions of the urban agricultural base, and constructing a rational spatial layout, complete industrial structure, and unique landscape system, this design provides insights for similar urban agricultural base designs.

Tian Zhi-an · Science Technology and Industry · China (Tongling)

A SWOT analysis of urban agriculture development in Tongling City, China, found that the city's urban agriculture conditions are mature. The study recommends leveraging policy support, planning guidance, and scientific and technological support to accelerate its development.

Qiu Yan · Journal of Quanzhou Normal University · China (Quanzhou)

This article analyzed Quanzhou City's past ten years of three production sectors, labor structure trends, and their influence on the Strait West Coast economic area's industrial structure. Using GDP proportion, contribution rate, structural similarity, and comparative labor productivity, it suggested that Quanzhou should optimize its industrial structure and promote cross-strait economic zone development. Optimization suggestions included advancing agricultural multi-function transformation, forming regional urban agriculture, fostering strategic emerging industries, and strengthening modern service industries.

Huang Xue-qun · · China (Tianjin)

This paper analyzed the development status of Tianjin urban fishery, finding it to be in an early stage. Problems identified included a low level of industrial development, an unscientific development mode, and weak innovation capability. The study proposed development paths and measures for industrial transformation and upgrading.

Wenjuan Hu · Tianjin Agricultural Sciences · China (Nanchang)

This paper analyzed the competitive power of Nanchang urban agriculture using the Diamond model. The analysis considered production factors, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, business strategies and structure, and horizontal competition. The study presented countermeasures and suggestions, including developing low-carbon agriculture and optimizing organizational forms.

Kai Zhang · Journal of Changjiang Vegetables · China

This paper analyzes the Netherlands' experience in developing modernized, specialized, and marketized urban horticulture, and discusses development goals for the horticulture industry in China's metropolitan suburbs on that basis. Drawing on the concept of modern agricultural development, it proposes strategies including developing advanced technology and equipment, innovating greenhouse production technology, optimizing the organizational forms of agriculture, improving industrial systems, increasing overall benefit, and achieving agricultural modernization.

楼文龙 · 农村金融研究 · China (Beijing)

A Chinese policy study examining how the financial sector can support the development of the "three rural issues" (agriculture, rural areas, farmers) in a major metropolis, using Beijing as the example. Drawing on the coordinated practices between Beijing's banking sector and related parties, and on a review of relevant policy measures, the author presents a preliminary analysis.

LI Weishu, Lingxian Zhang, Zetian Fu, Ren Xi, Li, Wei-Shu, Zhang, Ling-Xian, Fu, Ze-Tian, Ren, Xi · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · China (Beijing)

This study analyses the development situation of Beijing's modern urban agriculture in terms of agricultural distribution, agricultural foundation and agricultural industrial system. It identifies challenges including resource shortages, environmental deterioration and high production costs, alongside opportunities such as a large market space and advanced agricultural industrial experience, and sets out development directions for the Twelfth Five-Year Plan period, including strengthening the agricultural foundation, orienting toward mid- to high-end market demand, building a unique product brand, and raising the added value of agricultural products.

Annelies De Nijs, Pei-Chun Wen, Di Wu · TERRITORIO · China

In contemporary China, where the evolution of productive land relates to specific government policies and the nation's changing spatial conditions, a paper describes urban agriculture — particularly developed in the friction zone between the ever-growing urban and threatened rural territories — through three cases in Beijing's peri-urban periphery: Liuminying, Xiedao, and Taihu. The first two, Liuminying and Xiedao, show a major concern for sustainable production and agro-tourism but a weaker embedding in their local contexts, while the Taihu project is more rooted in its locale and provides a stronger response to the site's ecological sensitivity. The paper argues the Taihu case exemplifies an alternative to China's ever-booming and seemingly randomly placed agro-tourism sites.

임주호, 이경환, 윤인숙, 윤은주 · · South Korea

This study estimated new-town residents' willingness to pay for urban garden plots on public land, using a 1.5-bound dichotomous-choice contingent valuation method (CVM) survey of residents in Bundang and Dongtan, South Korea. 72.6% of respondents said they would use urban garden plots if part of a park or green space were developed and leased as an urban farm, indicating latent demand; willingness to pay was estimated at about 236,000 won per year for one plot (16.5 m2 basis), exceeding rental costs at existing weekend farms near the capital region. Gender, age and occupation significantly affected willingness to pay, while other socioeconomic characteristics, possible visit frequency and desired stay duration were not significant.

Yan Shi, Cunwang Cheng, Peng Lei, Tiejun Wen, Caroline Merrifield · International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability · China (Beijing)

This paper examined the relationship between the Chinese middle class and sustainable agriculture, from the perspective of establishing and operating Beijing's first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, amidst growing middle-class interest in "green" and sustainable food. The study discussed the farm's environmental and institutional sustainability, and explored the potential for future success with CSA models in China based on evidence from this case.

Yang Yu-xian · Huazhong Nongye Daxue xuebao · China (Wuhan)

This paper investigates farmers' professional cooperative organizations in Wuhan, China, examining their social basis, characteristics, and organizational forms. It identifies these cooperatives as a new type of rural economic organization and an effective vehicle for modern urban agriculture. The study concludes that developing such organizations is necessary for them to become an important industrial basis for modern urban agriculture and rural areas.

Prasanta Bauri · · India

This article assesses the significance of urban agriculture in globalizing India. It suggests that urban farming offers a pragmatic solution to food insecurity, livelihood crises, unemployment, poverty, hunger, and environmental unsustainability in India. Additionally, commercial urban agriculture could enhance Indian cash crop exports.

杨丽红 · 时代金融 · China (Kunming)

The Xishan Sub-branch of the People's Bank of China provided guidance for financial institutions in Xishan District, Kunming City, to support "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" (三農) in 2011. Key priorities included vigorously developing urban agriculture, specifically through the creation of Yongjing Green Vegetable Park, Longtan Four Seasons Specialty Fruit Park, and Xiaocun Ecological Leisure Tourism Park. These initiatives aimed to promote green vegetable cultivation, ornamental and processed flower development, attract suburban leisure tourism, and foster the growth of rural service industries like "agritourism."

Hui Wang · Guizhou nongye kexue · China

A SWOT analysis was conducted for urban agriculture in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration, China, to provide a reference for its sustainable development. The analysis led to specific proposed strategies, including strengthening government support, developing agricultural industrialization, promoting technological innovation, establishing new service systems for production, management, and marketing, and developing leisure agriculture.

胡永林 · 浙江现代农业 · China (Yuhang)

This paper examines the development of modern urban agriculture in Yuhang District, China, driven by an urbanization strategy. It notes that the provincial initiative in 2010 to establish "two zones" (modern agricultural demonstration zones and grain production functional zones) provides a clear direction and strong framework for advancing modern urban agriculture, necessitating in-depth research and practical implementation.

Hui Li · Anhui nongye kexue · China (Zhuhai City)

A 300 km2 section in Zhuhai City's Northern Doumen District, China, was designated an Ecological Agricultural Zone, proposing a development pattern from agricultural to ecological civilization. Two paths were identified: urban agriculture and ecotourism, with ecotourism as the focus. Analysis of ecotourism bottlenecks revealed issues like lack of unified planning, incomplete infrastructure, and insufficient promotion. Proposed solutions included developing eco-culture and sightseeing tourism with a specific spatial layout and functional circles.

De Ren Fu, Yao Zhi Huang · Advanced materials research · China (Taihu Lake)

Urban agricultural landscape is a composite functional system combining modern agriculture, rural culture, tourism and leisure, environmental education, and farming experience, dependent on agricultural production. With urban and rural development, urbanization, and agricultural modernization, metropolitan agricultural landscapes face significant impacts and challenges. This paper analyzes the relationship between rural and urban development and metropolitan agricultural landscapes, then proposes a strategy for the metropolitan agricultural landscape in Taihu Lake.

Nola-Kate Seymoar, Elizabeth Ballantyne, Craig J. Pearson · Urban agriculture · Asia

This paper describes the objectives, process, and outcomes of three urban greening projects in low-income communities in Bangkok, Thailand, and Badulla, Matale, Moratuwa, and Matara, Sri Lanka. These projects developed and validated a "Four-Directional Framework" for sustainable community development using participatory action research. Urban greening, incorporating urban agriculture, was found to be an effective tool for improving relationships between local authorities and residents and for building a foundation for sustainable development initiatives.

Priyanie Amerasinghe, Chenna Basappa Gangappa Yadava, Wijenayake, K.M.A., Suleman, K.B. · CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) · Asia

This is the final report for the RUAF-FSTT Programme for the South and Southeast Asia Region, conducted from 2009 to June 2011 in Magadi, India, and Gampaha, Sri Lanka. The program aimed to strengthen farmer organizations and their marketing capacities in urban/periurban settings, and to develop sustainable urban farming systems. Core activities focused on operationalizing a City Strategy Agenda and an innovation project targeting low-income urban producers.