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Agriculture
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Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives
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Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 24311

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jessica Crowe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sociology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA
Interests: energy; environmental sociology; urban/community organization; economic development; social networks; food security; teaching and assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since World War II, agricultural production systems and food consumption have immensely changed. On one hand, agricultural research coupled with high-input, capital-intensive, and trade-based policies has greatly increased global farm productivity. However, serious questions have been raised about the sustainability of industrial agricultural and food systems, including the effect on food security and rural development. An estimated 800 million people across the world live in hunger, most of whom are smallholder farmers who depend on agriculture to earn a living and feed their families. Investing in smallholder farmers is important in feeding a population expected to grow to 9 billion people in the upcoming decades. Given the scarcity of natural resources, the world will need to be more efficient in becoming food secure.

This Special Issue seeks to contribute to the rural development and food security literature through innovative scientific and multidisciplinary knowledge. To that end, we invite authors to submit original work based on empirical, qualitative, and/or quantitative research, theoretical discussion, policy analysis or humanities-based inquiry. Of particular interest are papers that address the differential impact of agricultural and food-related institutions, technologies, policies, and practices on rural development, food security, democratic governance, and social equity.

Dr. Jessica Crowe
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • evaluation of rural development programs
  • rural community revitalization
  • food and agricultural systems
  • sustainability of industrial agriculture
  • food security
  • smart agriculture

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 677 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Target Price Policy on Cotton Cultivation: Analysis of County-Level Panel Data from China
by Wei Wang, Chongmei Zhang, Jiahao Song and Dingde Xu
Agriculture 2021, 11(10), 988; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11100988 - 10 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2308
Abstract
China is an important cotton production area in the world. Since 2014, China has implemented a cotton target price subsidy policy in Xinjiang for 7 years. As the policy implementation time has lengthened, some deep-seated problems have started to emerge. Therefore, it is [...] Read more.
China is an important cotton production area in the world. Since 2014, China has implemented a cotton target price subsidy policy in Xinjiang for 7 years. As the policy implementation time has lengthened, some deep-seated problems have started to emerge. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize and evaluate to clarify the future policy direction of the cotton target price subsidy policy. Based on county-level panel data of Xinjiang and Shandong from 2011 to 2018, this paper used the Propensity Score Matching—Difference in Difference method to analyze the impact of the implementation of cotton target price subsidy policy on cotton planting in Xinjiang. The results showed that: (1) after the implementation of the cotton target price subsidy policy, cotton production was stimulated by the transition, cotton producers’ enthusiasm for cotton production was higher, cotton production increased rapidly, and the yield per unit area decreased, indicating that there was a ’bubble’ in cotton cultivation. (2) The target price subsidy policy mainly achieves the expansion of the cotton planting scale by reducing the area of competitive crops. In view of the above research conclusions, this paper further explains its policy implications. It is proposed that the future cotton target price level should be formulated to fully consider the comparative benefits between different crops, to restrict the subjects that enjoy subsidies and the upper limit of subsidies, and strictly implement the concept of green development; it is necessary to guide cotton production out of ecologically vulnerable areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives)
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17 pages, 6696 KiB  
Article
Trends towards Coordination between Grain Production and Economic Development in China
by Kun Xie, Mingjun Ding, Jianrong Zhang and Liwen Chen
Agriculture 2021, 11(10), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11100975 - 08 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2008
Abstract
Accurately understanding the relationship between grain production and economic development is of great practical significance for ensuring national food security and coordinating inter-regional economic development. Using 2012 counties as research units, we analyzed the spatial coordination between grain production and economic development in [...] Read more.
Accurately understanding the relationship between grain production and economic development is of great practical significance for ensuring national food security and coordinating inter-regional economic development. Using 2012 counties as research units, we analyzed the spatial coordination between grain production and economic development in China using the coupling of grain and economy (CGE) index, as well as the curve of gravity center and thematic map series methods based on statistical data from counties between 2000–2017. The results showed that: (1) Grain production was weakly coordinated with the economic development in China; but this coordination was enhanced. (2) China’s conversion between various types of grain production and economic development mainly occurred in the central and western regions, which are characterized by a much higher grain agglomeration level than the economic agglomeration level. (3) The northeastern region was prone to the grain agglomeration, the central and western regions were characterized by a grain-economy balance and the eastern region was dominated by economic agglomeration. (4) The increase of China’s CGE gradually increased from the southwest to northeast. Therefore, we proposed that the government should pay more attention to grain circulation in the eastern region and main grain-producing areas in central region should develop an accurate benefit compensation system, support leading grain processing enterprises and implement cultivated land protection policies in order to ensure national food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives)
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14 pages, 1087 KiB  
Article
An Impact Analysis of Farmer Field Schools on Hog Productivity: Evidence from China
by Jinyang Cai, Fengxiang Ding, Yu Hong and Ruifa Hu
Agriculture 2021, 11(10), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11100972 - 07 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2074
Abstract
In recent decades, pigs and pork have been the central elements of Chinese agricultural systems, food security, and diet. China’s rapid income growth has induced a significant change in food consumption patterns, and hog production has received utmost attention from both, the Chinese [...] Read more.
In recent decades, pigs and pork have been the central elements of Chinese agricultural systems, food security, and diet. China’s rapid income growth has induced a significant change in food consumption patterns, and hog production has received utmost attention from both, the Chinese government and the public. While the impact of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) on crop cultivation has been widely studied, few studies have examined the impact of FFS on hog production. This study uses data collected from 222 hog farmers in Beijing to examine the impact of FFS on the productivity of hog production, focusing on its three main indicators: feed conversion ratio and the mortality of sows and piglets. We found that farms that participated in FFS programs significantly improved the feed conversion ratio of hog production, particularly in small scale hog farms. On average, FFS reduced the feed conversion ratio for herd sizes of 1000, 500, and 200 by 6.8%, 10.7%, and 14.0%, respectively. We did not find evidence that farms that participated in FFS programs had a significant impact on minimizing the mortality of sows and piglets. This study suggests that the knowledge training model of the FFS program could also work in fields other than crop cultivation. Furthermore, we suggest that more attention could be paid to extension services diffusing knowledge of vaccination and disinfection in hog FFS programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives)
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18 pages, 1475 KiB  
Article
EU Inspections of GM Content in Food and Feed: Are They Effective?
by Francisco J. Areal and Laura Riesgo
Agriculture 2021, 11(9), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090842 - 01 Sep 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2688
Abstract
We investigate the effectiveness of inspecting regimes in controlling food and feed products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) non-compliant with European Commission (EC) regulations (i.e., a food/feed import containing above the 0.9% GM content threshold for food and at or above 0.1% for [...] Read more.
We investigate the effectiveness of inspecting regimes in controlling food and feed products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) non-compliant with European Commission (EC) regulations (i.e., a food/feed import containing above the 0.9% GM content threshold for food and at or above 0.1% for feed allowed by the EC regulations but not (or incorrectly) labelled or food/feed imports containing unauthorized GMOs). We collate information at the country level from EC official reports on the number of samples and cases of non-compliance identified by official controls conducted by European Member States (MS). We analyze the probability of finding non-compliant food/feed imports for a number of MS countries between 2000 and 2013, by using a hierarchical model, which interlinks the number of samples taken (i.e., inspections) with interceptions of non-compliant products. Results show that the probability of finding imported products non-compliant with EC’s GMO regulations in food and feed varies among MS countries but, in most cases, is relatively high. For instance, for imported food products in 2004, the probability of the rate of intercepting non-compliant food products being above 5% and 10% in France was 99% and 70%, respectively. However, whereas countries such as Sweden, Portugal, and Austria also show a high rate of intercepting non-compliant food, other countries such as Germany and Spain show a very low probability of finding imported food products being non-compliant. For imported feed products, the overall probability of rate of intercepting non-compliant feed products being above 5% and 10% per country and year was even higher than for imported food products (e.g., 100% in the case of Hungary in 2005). The European Union regulation needs to guide MS adequately in order to establish the optimal level of inspections, guaranteeing consumers’ freedom of choice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives)
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18 pages, 1169 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Livelihood Risk on Farmers of Different Poverty Types: Based on the Study of Typical Areas in Sichuan Province
by Xuanye Zeng, Zhuoying Fu, Xin Deng and Dingde Xu
Agriculture 2021, 11(8), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080768 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7744
Abstract
After the completion of China’s poverty alleviation task in 2020, the poverty situation will undergo major changes, and the focus of poverty alleviation work will shift to solving relative poverty. This can provide useful inspiration for the government to formulate and implement relevant [...] Read more.
After the completion of China’s poverty alleviation task in 2020, the poverty situation will undergo major changes, and the focus of poverty alleviation work will shift to solving relative poverty. This can provide useful inspiration for the government to formulate and implement relevant policies that explore the differences in livelihood risk impacts of different types of farmers in areas where disasters and poverty are intertwined. This study used survey data of 327 households in four districts and counties in the hardest-hit areas of the Wenchuan Earthquake and Lushan Earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province in 2018. This study measured farmers’ livelihood risks from four aspects: health risks, environmental risks, financial risks, and social risks, and measured farmers’ poverty types from three aspects: absolutely poor farmers, relatively poor farmers, and non-poor farmers. It systematically analyzed the four types of livelihood risks faced by farmers and the three types of poverty they were in, and constructed a multinomial logistic regression to explore the correlation between livelihood risks and poverty types. This study is the first to compare the relatively poor type with other poverty types. The second innovation is that it uses the entropy method and multinomial logistic regression. The results showed that: (1) Among the four livelihood risks faced by farmers, the biggest was the environmental risk, the next was financial risk, the third was health risk, and the last was social risk. (2) Among the three poverty types, farmers in absolute poverty were the most populated, with non-poor farmers next, and relatively poor farmers at the bottom. (3) Farmers of different poverty types were affected by livelihood risks to different degrees. Specifically, when compared with the impacts on farmers in absolute poverty, the impacts social risks could bring to farmers in relative poverty were more severe while the impacts of health risks, environmental risks and financial were not that strong. Impacted by social risks, relatively poor farmers are more seriously impacted by public affairs and social security status. When compared with the impacts on non-poor farmers, the impacts of all these four risks on relatively poor farmers were not notable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives)
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35 pages, 16697 KiB  
Article
The Vernacular and Rural Houses of Agrarian Areas in the Zeta Region, Montenegro
by Goran Skataric, Velibor Spalevic, Svetislav Popovic, Nenad Perosevic and Rajko Novicevic
Agriculture 2021, 11(8), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080717 - 29 Jul 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3465
Abstract
Architectural quality and preservation of rural characteristics is a goal of building design for sustainable environments. The environment has a different function for different societies, creating a large variety of meanings. In the Zeta region of Montenegro, the negative transformation of the rural [...] Read more.
Architectural quality and preservation of rural characteristics is a goal of building design for sustainable environments. The environment has a different function for different societies, creating a large variety of meanings. In the Zeta region of Montenegro, the negative transformation of the rural environment is happening more rapidly than the recording of its traditional built assets. Protection and conservation of traditional rural architecture in this rural region of south-eastern Europe are important to both mitigation of the consequences of unsustainable rural shifts and the preservation of cultural heritage. This research focuses on the meaning of the different dwelling and residential environment features for the residents of the traditional houses of the rural areas of the Zeta region, Montenegro. The aim of the research was to obtain more insight and information on the meaning of architectural and rural design features by exploring the sustainability-related characteristics of traditional rural houses in the so-far insufficiently studied micro-region of the western Balkans to reveal their value and to initiate discussion of the role of heritage regeneration in sustainable rural development. Fifty (50) traditional houses of agrarian and rural areas of the Zeta region of Montenegro were observed and analysed in terms of the building site, space planning of the interior space, and building materials used. The analysis has revealed that many ecological aspects were taken into consideration and different methods were implemented during the construction of the traditional houses of the Zeta region. Taking into consideration the age of those structures, the constructors did not have an in-depth awareness of sustainability theories, and they were acting based on their personal practices and specific environmental requirements. This study’s results can help update a database of sustainability for the traditional architectural heritage of Montenegro, which will enhance the process of creating sustainable buildings without losing the place identity and staying in the same cultural context. Restoration of the traditional houses of the Zeta region of Montenegro, but also of the other rural areas of Montenegro, must in future be defined in a way that enables the preservation of recognized general values and further improvement of environmental quality and climate resilience. Simultaneously, functional reactivation of traditional houses should be understood as a contribution to the sustainable development of the studied region of Montenegro. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives)
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15 pages, 1068 KiB  
Article
Are Chilean Pasture Seed End-Users Adopting New Species? Trends and Joinpoint Regression Analysis of the Last 19 Years of Seed Imports
by Cristian J. Moscoso, Fernando Ortega-Klose and Alejandra Acuña
Agriculture 2021, 11(6), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11060552 - 17 Jun 2021
Viewed by 2046
Abstract
Pastures are important for the agricultural sector as forage, recreational and sports systems. The Chilean pasture seed market is highly dependent on introduced genetics; however, the effect of climate change and market conditions can modify pasture options. The objective of this study was [...] Read more.
Pastures are important for the agricultural sector as forage, recreational and sports systems. The Chilean pasture seed market is highly dependent on introduced genetics; however, the effect of climate change and market conditions can modify pasture options. The objective of this study was to quantify changes of the pasture seeds sown by Chilean end-users, as metric tons (Mt) or proportion of the total (PT), based on 19 years of imported seed. The Mann–Kendall test and joinpoint regression analysis were used to estimate the overall trends and the average annual percent change (AAPC) for the whole period, respectively. The total imported Mt had an increasing trend and AAPC (+5.7%), wherein a large PT corresponded to ryegrasses (Lolium spp.) (0.681), with increasing trends for Mt and PT. Clovers (Trifolium spp.) had decreasing trends and AAPC (−2.9% for Mt and −9.6% for PT). For PT, the main species was perennial ryegrass (L. perenne L.) (0.357), with increasing trends for Mt. As Mt, a positive AAPC was found for plantain (P. lanceolata L.) (+17.4%) and chicory (C. intybus L.) (+63.2%). Over a period of 19 years, based on Mt but not PT, Chilean end-users have been adopting new pasture species with a decreasing use of Trifolium spp. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policy, Food Security, and Rural Development: Innovations and Perspectives)
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