The ecological agriculture movement in modern China

Chinese ecological agriculture (CEA) is a relatively recent agricultural and rural development approach, which has emerged in light of continuous efforts in exploring sustainable agriculture and rural development in modern China. Based on the discussion of the ecological agricultural concepts and practices in ancient China, as well as the agro-ecological problems that have emerged in modern China, this paper introduces the emergence and development process of CEA and analyses its concept, connotation and underlying principles. In addition, the processes as well as some practical principles in organizing CEA projects are discussed, and the major CEA development patterns currently practiced in China are introduced. Using the Fushan Integrated Ecological Farm in Fushan village, Zhejiang Province, a typical CEA project in south China, as an example, the practical organization process of a CEA project is introduced as well as the significant benefits achieved by the launching of an appropriate CEA project in China’s rural areas. The successful practices of a variety of CEA projects with various development patterns and models that have been developed with adaptation to various natural and socioeconomic conditions across China justify the rationality as well as applicability of the CEA approach, showing its important relevance to agricultural and rural development in China. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.