Agro-ecological product and its value realization pathway

Abstract

The value realization of agro-ecological products is of great significance to China's food security, ecological protection, and strategic blueprint. We reviewed the concepts and boundaries of agricultural ecosystem and agro-ecological products (including agricultural products, other ecosystem services and dis-services). Based on the emergy method, the agricultural ecosystem service quantification method was proposed and the ecosystem services and dis-services of typical agricultu-ral products per unit area in China were calculated. Further, the type-specific values realization pathways of the agro-ecological products were discussed. It was found that 1) the values of the agro-ecological products, which has been realized through market mechanism, can further be added by the means of increasing green degrees or special degree, and establishing agricultural industrial chains; 2) the values of the agro-ecological products, which have not yet been realized through market mechanism, should be compensated or realized through ecological product empowerment and regional shared brand quality commitment; 3) the values of the agro-ecological products can be preserved or increased through reducing the harmfulness of N, P, pesticides and insecticides to ecosystem and human health by multi-approaches-based GHG emission reduction, land nutrient management strategies, and rational landscape architecture; 4) some financial solutions can be promoted, e.g., cancellation of secondary agricultural subsidies, the establishment of ecological trading platform and the certification of ecological products. This study contributes to propose the value realization pathways of agro-ecological products, advance the development of green finance, and promote the modernization of natural resource management capabilities.

Keywords: agro-ecological product; disservices; marketing value; non-marketing value; value realization.