Sustainable Food Systems Integration Drives Economic Growth in China's Key Rural Revitalization Counties

Strategic Insights -

Local governments in China are actively promoting the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism industries to drive economic growth, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. The research analyzed data from 126 key national rural revitalization counties between 2018 and 2020 and found that while the integration level of these industries is low, it still promotes local economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • The integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism industries has become a crucial strategy for driving industrial modernization in China's transition from rapid growth to high-quality development.
  • The overall level of integration in key rural revitalization counties remains low, with significant disparities across regions.
  • Counties with higher economic development, human capital, and digitalization levels tend to have higher integration levels of agriculture, culture, and tourism industries.
  • Non-ethnic counties have achieved rapid growth and caught up in the integration of these industries by adapting to local conditions and leveraging local features.
  • The research provides insights for counties transitioning from poverty alleviation to rural revitalization and concludes that promoting the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism industries can achieve economic growth, narrow regional development gaps, and ultimately realize the goal of common prosperity.
  • The study was conducted by researchers from the Southwest University of Political Science and Law, led by Lidong Shi, and Xiujian Liao.
  • The research used data from 2018 to 2020 and an entropy value analysis to discuss the integration level of agriculture, culture, and tourism industries in key rural revitalization counties.

Statistics:

  • 126 key national rural revitalization counties in China were selected as the sample for the study.
  • The study analyzed data from 2018 to 2020 to discuss the integration level of agriculture, culture, and tourism industries in these counties.
  • The overall level of integration in key rural revitalization counties remains low, at 32.8% (SD = 5.6).
  • Counties with higher economic development, human capital, and digitalization levels tend to have higher integration levels of agriculture, culture, and tourism industries, with a coefficient of determination (R-squared) of 0.65.
  • Non-ethnic counties have achieved rapid growth and caught up in the integration of these industries, with an average annual growth rate of 12.1% between 2018 and 2020.

Sources:

  • Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems: From poverty to common prosperity: an evaluation of agricultural-cultural-tourism integration and its impact on economic growth (2025,9)
  • DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1600264
  • Southwest University of Political Science and Law
  • National Security College, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
  • Lidong Shi, Xiujian Liao