Chinese economic growth rates may send many people into raptures, but the agricultural sector is usually excluded from this enthusiasm. Being the problem child among Chinas economic sectors, agriculture is characterized by its low productivity and sluggish development, negatively affecting the national development, and in particular, a rural upturn. Under these conditions, the emergence of environmentally friendly farming – including organic agriculture – gives rise to great hopes, since these approaches are expected to have positive influences on economic, social and ecological fields.
Organic farming continues to show a rapid development world-wide. On the Asian continent the total area of organic production still is relatively small, but the interest in organic is steadily increasing. According to a SÖL-survey, among the countries in Asia “ […] China heralds perhaps the highest growth potential [for organic farming] in the near future.” The Chinese organic development is only a few years old, but more than one third of Asia’s total area under organic management is already situated in China. Tremendous growth rates have been evolving in all fields of the Chinese organic industry and market.
In 1990, the Dutch organic certification body SKAL inspected and later certified a Chinese tea plantation, which became the first organic farm in China. Four years later, the earliest Chinese organic certification body, OFDC, was established. By 1995, altogether almost 45,000 ha of land were reported to be certified as organically cultivated in China. If the SÖL is right with its estimation, the certified organic production area increased to more than 100,000 ha in 2001, plus about 200,000 ha that are cultivated according to organic standards, but still have not received an organic certificate. Nevertheless, this is only 0,06 % of the total agricultural land in China.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- INTRODUCTION
- Questions of Interest and Outline of the Thesis
- Methodical Approach
- General Overview of Research and Literature
- Technical and Practical Notes
- Introduction to Organic Agriculture
- The Development of Organic Farming
- Why Organic Agriculture
- What is Organic Agriculture
- GENERAL PRECONDITIONS FOR ORGANIC FARMING AND ORGANIC FOOD CONSUMPTION IN CHINA
- Basic Political Preconditions
- Land Tenure Rights
- The Rural Reform after 1978
- Parallel Development of Two Contrasting Agricultural Conceptions
- The Industrialization of Agriculture
- Approaches to Agricultural Sustainability
- Environmental Deterioration its Consequences and Policy Responses
- Environmental Policy
- Use of Agricultural Technology on the Whole
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides
- Overuse of Agro-Chemicals
- Low Economic Viability of Agriculture
- Situation of Low Agricultural Profitability
- Agricultural Implications by China's Accession to the WTO
- Selected Reasons for the Low Agricultural Profitability
- Consequences of Low Agricultural Profitability
- Prerequisites for the Development of a Domestic Organic Market
- Private Purchasing Power in Urban Areas
- Changes in Chinese Food Consumption
- THE ORGANIC FOOD INDUSTRY IN CHINA
- Interest Groups of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture
- Governmental Involvement
- Certification and Consultation Bodies
- Business Companies within the Production Chain
- Consumers
- The Attitude of the Government towards Environmentally Friendly Agriculture
- Ecological Agricultural Concepts and their Certification Bodies
- Organic Agriculture and Organic Certifiers in China
- The Organic Food Development Center
- The Organic Tea Research and Development Center
- Other Chinese Organic Certifiers
- Foreign Organic Certifiers in China
- Green Food - A Chinese Agricultural Model
- Further Agricultural Concepts in China
- The Chinese Organic Industry
- Organic Farms in China – Focus Shanghai
- The Four Organic Farms in Shanghai
- Other Farms Producing for the Shanghai Organic Market
- Organic Farmers
- Research, Consultation and Networking
- Research in Chinese Organic Agriculture
- Consultation and Trainings
- Sharing Organic Knowledge
- Subcontractors, Processors and Traders
- The Organic Processing Industry
- Organic Trading Companies
- The Organic Food Market
- Places to Buy
- Product Range
- The Organic Consumer
- Who Buys Organic Food?
- Consumer Motivation to Buy Organic Products
- Favored Products in Organic Quality
- Consumer Knowledge about and Confidence in Organic Products
- Consumer Suggestions for Improvement
- ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN OF ORGANIC FOOD TRADE IN CHINA
- Macro Environment of the Organic Food Trading Industry
- Political Factors
- Economic Factors
- Socio-Cultural Factors
- Technological Factors
- Ecological Factors
- The Influence of Macro Environmental Factors on the Organic Industry
- Micro Environment of the Organic Food Trading Industry
- Supplier Power
- Buyer Power
- Substitute Products
- Threats of Market Entry
- Rivalry among Competitors
- Conclusion of Industry Forces and Implications for the Entire Organic Industry
- CURRENT STATE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE CHINESE ORGANIC INDUSTRY
- The Organic Industry's Expansion in China
- Obstacles for the Organic Industry in China
- Organic Farming's Contribution to Solving Major Problems
- Prospects for the Development of the Chinese Organic Industry
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis examines the current state and future prospects of the organic food industry in China. It explores the historical, political, and economic factors that have shaped the development of the organic sector in China, along with the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for its growth. The thesis analyzes the role of government policy, consumer demand, and market dynamics in shaping the organic food industry.
- The development of organic agriculture in China
- The political, economic, and environmental factors influencing organic food consumption
- The key players and stakeholders involved in the organic food industry
- The challenges and opportunities facing the growth of the organic sector in China
- The potential for organic farming to contribute to sustainable agriculture and rural development in China.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the research question, outlines the thesis's structure, and provides a general overview of the literature on organic agriculture and the Chinese food system.
- General Preconditions for Organic Farming and Organic Food Consumption in China: This chapter explores the political, economic, and environmental context in which organic agriculture operates in China. It examines land tenure rights, rural reform, the industrialization of agriculture, and the challenges posed by environmental deterioration.
- The Organic Food Industry in China: This chapter examines the key players and stakeholders involved in the organic food industry in China, including government agencies, certification bodies, farmers, processors, traders, and consumers. It analyzes the current state of the organic industry, focusing on the development of organic farms, research and consultation initiatives, and the growing consumer demand for organic products.
- Environmental Scan of Organic Food Trade in China: This chapter applies a PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) analysis to the organic food industry in China. It identifies key macro-environmental factors that influence the industry, such as government regulations, economic growth, consumer preferences, and technological advancements. Additionally, it examines the competitive landscape of the organic food industry, analyzing the power of suppliers, buyers, substitute products, and potential entrants.
- Current State and Future Prospects of the Chinese Organic Industry: This chapter analyzes the current state of the organic industry in China, identifying its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It explores the potential for the organic industry to expand in China, considering factors such as government support, consumer awareness, and technological innovation. It concludes by discussing the contribution of organic farming to sustainable agriculture and rural development in China.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts explored in this thesis include: organic agriculture, China, organic food industry, sustainable agriculture, rural development, environmental challenges, consumer demand, government policy, certification, market dynamics, environmental scan, PESTEL analysis, and industry forces.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Carola Milbrodt (Autor:in), 2004, Organic Food Industry in China - Current State and Future Prospects -, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/42637
