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Agricultural industry

Agricultural Sustainable Development in China: Nonlinear Effects of Rural Population Aging

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted in China over the past two decades has shown a significant positive effect of rural population aging on agricultural sustainable development. The study, which analyzed panel data from 31 provinces and municipalities in China, found that the relationship between rural population aging and agricultural sustainable development is nonlinear, with the impact of labor transfer increasing as the proportion of labor transfer increases. The study's findings have important implications for the development of region-specific sustainable agricultural development strategies to support long-term sustainability in the agricultural sector.

Key Takeaways:

  • The overall level of agricultural sustainable development in China has shown a consistent upward trend over the past two decades, with the highest level observed in main grain-consuming areas, followed by main grain-producing areas, and the lowest in grain-producing and consuming balance areas.
  • Rural population aging exhibits a significant nonlinear and positive effect on agricultural sustainable development, with the impact of labor transfer increasing as the proportion of labor transfer increases.
  • The study suggests that promoting the scaling-up of agricultural operations, fostering a new generation of professional farmers, and implementing region-specific sustainable agricultural development strategies are essential to support long-term sustainability in the agricultural sector.
  • The study found that as the proportion of labor transfer increases, the positive impact on agricultural sustainable development also increases, indicating a nonlinear effect.
  • The study's empirical findings are based on data from 31 provinces and municipalities in China, spanning the period from 2002 to 2021.
  • The research was supported by the Key Project of the National Social Science Fund of China.
  • Additional authors for this research include Yan Liu, Manqian Xu, and Xuanzhe Song.

Statistics:

  • The study analyzed panel data from 31 provinces and municipalities in China, spanning the period from 2002 to 2021.
  • The study found that the overall level of agricultural sustainable development in China has shown a consistent upward trend over the past two decades.
  • The highest level of agricultural sustainable development was observed in main grain-consuming areas, followed by main grain-producing areas, and the lowest in grain-producing and consuming balance areas.
  • Rural population aging exhibits a significant nonlinear and positive effect on agricultural sustainable development, with the impact of labor transfer increasing as the proportion of labor transfer increases.
  • The study suggests that promoting the scaling-up of agricultural operations, fostering a new generation of professional farmers, and implementing region-specific sustainable agricultural development strategies are essential to support long-term sustainability in the agricultural sector.
  • The study's empirical findings indicate that as the proportion of labor transfer increases, the positive impact on agricultural sustainable development also increases, indicating a nonlinear effect.

Sources:

  • VerticalNews. Current Study Results on Sustainability Research - Sustainable Development Published. Ecology, Environment & Conservation, 2025; p 85.
  • Sustainability. Research On the Impact of Population Aging On Agricultural Sustainable Development. 2025;17(10):4738.
  • Mdpi. Contact: Sustainability, St Alban-Anlage 66, Ch-4052 Basel, Switzerland.
  • NewsRx. Findings from Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University in Sustainable Development Reported (Research On the Impact of Population Aging On Agricultural Sustainable Development). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. June 27, 2025; p 85.

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