Title: Agriculture and sustainable development: policies analysis of the Taihu Economic Circle in China

Authors: Zhihong Shen; Takeshi Mizunoya; Yoshiro Higano

Addresses: Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1–1–1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305–8572, Japan. ' Faculty of Economics and Business, Wako University, 2160 Kanai–machi, Machida–shi, Tokyo, 195–8585, Japan. ' Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1–1–1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305–8572, Japan

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish a method to truly realise sustainable agricultural development. In this study, sustainable agricultural development is defined as the following conditions: 1) coordination between environmental protection and regional economic development; 2) meeting the demands of production and life; 3) improving EEII; 4) safe and efficient recycle or reuse of natural resources; 5) potential value added to development. The biomass gasification is a process which converts renewable resources into a synthetic fuel with less air pollution, water pollution and GHG emission. Environmental financial policy includes WPERT to improve environmental efficiency by optimal resource allocation and fair trade. We structure an IBMS that presents the environment system, WPERTS and socioeconomic activities situational changes over a ten-year period to analyse the effectiveness and efficiency of the policies to enhance agricultural production and improve the environment by simulation. Finally, we propose an optimal plan to achieve sustainable development of TEC in China.

Keywords: sustainable indicators; water pollutants; greenhouse gases; water pollution; emission rights trading; biomass gasification; integrated basin management; regional policies; social economic activities; simulation analysis; China; Taihu Economic Circle; agricultural development; coordination; environmental protection; regional development; economic development; production demands; environmental efficiency improvement index; recycling; resource reuse; natural resources; added value; renewable resources; synthetic fuels; air pollution; greenhouse gas emissions; financial policies; resource allocation; fair trade; socioeconomic activities; situational changes; effectiveness; efficiency; foresight; innovation policies; agriculture; sustainability; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2012.046111

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2012 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.210 - 235

Published online: 21 Nov 2014 *

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