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Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition
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Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 10462

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Fotios Chatzitheodoridis

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Guest Editor
Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
Interests: regional development; rural policy; rural development; energy and development; management of integrated rural development programmes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Efstratios Loizou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
Interests: applied economics; regional development models; bioeconomy; agricultural economics; rural development; rural policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Achilleas Kontogeorgos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: agricultural economics; marketing; management of agricultural enterprises; agricultural cooperatives; quality assurance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global agricultural economy is changing as both the dynamics of world trade and international instabilities and crises directly and catalytically affect it. The disparities between rich and poor countries are essentially reflected in the structure of their agricultural sector, while environmental and economic crises, epidemics, and war conflicts have direct effects on prices and supply chains, but also on people's quality of life. Although these difficulties create a global gloomy environment, the agricultural economy is also changing in a positive way as national and supranational formations, such as those of the European Union, have consistently followed a changing agricultural policy for decades, so as to address the dynamics of events. In this context, this Special Issue aims to highlight both the problems, but also the solutions, in relation to achieving sustainable development in rural areas, with a focus on the rural economy, as well as its various aspects and differentiations.

The scope and focus of this Special Issue are specifically presented in the keywords/topics that follow. The transformation of the agricultural economy is fully linked with integrated sustainable development and touches on aspects related to agrofood strategies, bioeconomy, precision agriculture, organic farming, and the marketing of agricultural products, among other things. In this Special Issue, we also aim to cover all aspects under the concept of agricultural economy transformation, and we do not follow the existing literature that usually studies the topics separately.

This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality theoretical or empirical research papers that highlight aspects of the agriculture economy transformation and agricultural policies. International or country-specific research is welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Fotios Chatzitheodoridis
Prof. Dr. Efstratios Loizou
Dr. Achilleas Kontogeorgos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agriculture resilience and sustainability
  • agricultural policy
  • CAP reform
  • farm-to-fork strategy
  • rural development
  • LEADER and CLLD strategies
  • tourism alternative forms and sustainability
  • protected designations of origin and geographical indications (PDO and PGI)
  • sustainable rural development and culture
  • Climate change
  • EU green deal
  • biodiversity and agriculture
  • organic agriculture
  • bioeconomy and circular economy
  • agricultural economy
  • precision agriculture
  • international trade of agrofood products
  • impacts of international crises and instabilities on agricultural product markets and supply chains
  • sustainability, farm management, and informatics
  • marketing of agricultural products
  • consumer behavior

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 3384 KB  
Article
The Impact of Green Credit on Agricultural Carbon Emissions: Spatial Spillover Effects and Channels in China
by Yuzhen Deng, Zhicheng Yang, Litian Yang, Yuping Wen and Kaixi Chen
Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 5069; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18105069 - 18 May 2026
Viewed by 179
Abstract
Reducing agricultural carbon emissions is an important component of China’s efforts to achieve its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. As an important policy oriented financial instrument, green credit can facilitate lower agricultural carbon intensity by directing resources more efficiently across regions and [...] Read more.
Reducing agricultural carbon emissions is an important component of China’s efforts to achieve its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. As an important policy oriented financial instrument, green credit can facilitate lower agricultural carbon intensity by directing resources more efficiently across regions and encouraging low carbon transformation in agriculture. Using panel data for 30 Chinese provinces from 2005 to 2022, this study measures agricultural carbon emission intensity (ACEI) from six sources. It then examines the spatial spillover effects, transmission channels, and nonlinear characteristics associated with green credit by using a spatial Durbin framework, mediation analysis, and panel threshold model. The results indicate that: (1) green credit development is significantly associated with lower ACEI; (2) green credit exhibits significant spatial spillover effect, being associated with lower ACEI both within a province and in neighboring provinces; (3) green credit exhibits marked regional heterogeneity in its impact on ACEI: it shows both direct and spillover effects in the eastern region, only spillover effects in the central region, and only direct effects without effective diffusion in the western region; (4) green credit is associated with lower ACEI through industrial structure upgrading and lowering agricultural energy consumption intensity; (5) green credit has a single threshold effect on ACEI based on its own development level. After crossing the threshold, the emission intensity reduction effect weakens but remains significant. These results offer empirical evidence for refining green credit arrangements and advancing coordinated agricultural emission reduction across regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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27 pages, 6995 KB  
Article
Technology Empowerment, Industrial Support, and Welfare Orientation: Coupling Coordination and Synergistic Evolution Mechanisms of Digital Villages, Agricultural Modernization, and Farmers’ Objective Well-Being
by Chunlin Xiong, Duo Jiang and Ren Fan
Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4674; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104674 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 326
Abstract
At the critical stage of China’s comprehensive advancement of rural revitalization and the construction of a Digital China, promoting the coordinated development of digital villages, agricultural modernization and farmers’ objective well-being is essential for addressing the “three rural” issues. Taking 30 Chinese provinces [...] Read more.
At the critical stage of China’s comprehensive advancement of rural revitalization and the construction of a Digital China, promoting the coordinated development of digital villages, agricultural modernization and farmers’ objective well-being is essential for addressing the “three rural” issues. Taking 30 Chinese provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) as the research object, this study systematically evaluates the comprehensive development levels of the three systems from 2011 to 2024 using the entropy method, the coupling coordination degree model, and the GTWR model. It analyzes the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of their coupling coordination and identifies the influencing factors through rigorous testing. The main findings are as follows: (1) From 2011 to 2024, the comprehensive evaluation scores of the three systems in all provinces exhibited a continuous upward trend, with growth rates initially stable and then accelerating. However, prominent regional imbalances persist, characterized by a spatial pattern of “high in the east, low in the west, and rising in the middle”. (2) The coupling coordination degree of the three systems remains at a medium level but shows an overall upward trend, and the number of provinces achieving primary or higher coordination has significantly increased. (3) Government, market, and social factors exert spatially heterogeneous effects on coupling coordination. Through mechanisms such as compensating for shortcomings, offsetting positive and negative effects, and interactive catalysis, The three factors show synergistic correlation through shortcoming compensation, positive-negative offsetting, and interactive catalysis, with the combined coefficient surpassing the maximum individual coefficient. Policy recommendations include promoting organic integration and mutual empowerment of the three systems, implementing regionally differentiated development strategies to narrow spatial disparities, and strengthening the multi-source collaborative drive of government, market, and social factors to improve coupling coordination levels in a targeted manner. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 267 KB  
Article
Ecological Compensation Standard for Pesticide-Reduction Behavior of Chinese Vegetable Growers—Based on the Contingent Valuation Method and Heckman Two-Stage Model
by Mingyue Zhang, Liyu Ding, Ya’nan Wang and Jinyin Chen
Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3626; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073626 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 344
Abstract
Promoting pesticide reduction is a key step toward green vegetable production and ecological safety. Based on survey data collected from 356 leek growers in Weifang City—the largest facility-based vegetable production base in Shandong Province—this study empirically estimates the ecological compensation standard associated with [...] Read more.
Promoting pesticide reduction is a key step toward green vegetable production and ecological safety. Based on survey data collected from 356 leek growers in Weifang City—the largest facility-based vegetable production base in Shandong Province—this study empirically estimates the ecological compensation standard associated with pesticide-reduction behavior. The estimation employs a contingent valuation method (CVM) using non-parametric kernel density estimation for conditional value assessment, combined with the Heckman two-step model to address potential sample selection bias. The results show that 79.3% of respondents are willing to participate in an eco-compensation program for pesticide reduction; the main reason for refusal is “the higher reduction costs and lower profits”. The expected compensation level ranges from 614.94 to 620.57 yuan per mu (1 mu is approximately 0.165 acres) per year. Gender, share of Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum) income, trust in extension agents, and government penalties for excessive spraying significantly raise the required compensation, whereas age and knowledge of eco-compensation significantly lower it. Therefore, a sustainable compensation scheme co-driven by government and market should be established, combining cash, technical and in-kind support, and adopting tiered compensation schemes that reflect different reduction intensities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
22 pages, 742 KB  
Article
Industrial Upgrading and Spatial Spillover Effects on Rural Revitalization: Evidence from County-Level Fujian in China
by Haiping Wang, Ying Huang and Yongchang Liu
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010146 - 22 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 801
Abstract
Industrial development is a fundamental driver of socio-economic progress, and industrial structure upgrading plays a vital role in advancing rural revitalization. Based on county-level panel data from Fujian Province from 2017 to 2022, this study employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and spatial econometric [...] Read more.
Industrial development is a fundamental driver of socio-economic progress, and industrial structure upgrading plays a vital role in advancing rural revitalization. Based on county-level panel data from Fujian Province from 2017 to 2022, this study employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and spatial econometric models—including the Spatial Lag Model (SLM) and Spatial Error Model (SEM)—to empirically assess the impact of county-level industrial structure upgrading on rural revitalization, as well as its spatial transmission mechanisms. The findings reveal that: (1) an increase in the proportion of secondary and tertiary industries significantly enhances the rural revitalization development index at the 1% level of significance; (2) rural revitalization development exhibits strong spatial dependence and positive spatial spillover effects, indicating a “local club convergence” pattern among neighboring counties; and (3) the SEM outperforms OLS and SLM, suggesting that inter-county disparities in rural revitalization primarily result from spatial heterogeneities such as infrastructure and public service quality. Additionally, factors such as transportation accessibility, social public services, and per capita GDP have significant positive effects, while the impact of fiscal agricultural investment appears limited. This study provides empirical evidence to support coordinated development between industrial upgrading and rural revitalization strategies and offers policy insights for constructing an integrated and regionally synergistic framework for rural development in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 2089 KB  
Article
Polish Farmers and the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy: Between Affirmation and Rejection
by Michał Dudek
Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 10964; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172410964 - 8 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1733
Abstract
Agriculture is a sector that is subject to regulation and far-reaching public intervention, especially in developed countries. In Poland, a country that passed through a system transformation, inclusion in the European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) mechanisms and the internal market has [...] Read more.
Agriculture is a sector that is subject to regulation and far-reaching public intervention, especially in developed countries. In Poland, a country that passed through a system transformation, inclusion in the European Union’s (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) mechanisms and the internal market has resulted in positive and multi-dimensional effects for farmers and rural development. This fact is reflected in the evolution of farmers’ attitudes toward the EU, changing from opposition and distrust to acceptance and support. The purpose of the paper is to trace shifts in the political dynamics surrounding the CAP and EU membership among farmers, and to explore their causes. The findings suggest that, following the most recent policy reform—which involved increased environmental and climate commitments alongside market uncertainty—farmers have begun to lean towards a Eurosceptic orientation once more, whilst simultaneously demonstrating ambivalent attitudes towards the CAP. In light of the fragmented representation, the recent protests highlighted a mobilization of grassroots efforts in the pursuit of farmers’ interests. Hence, a question arises regarding the stability of this critical perspective, particularly in the context of future reforms to CAP as well as the economic and climate-related challenges for sustainable agricultural development. This study is based on a literature review alongside economic and social data derived from surveys and public statistics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 638 KB  
Article
Diversity in Young Talent Mobility and Retention Dynamics in China’s Sustainable Rural Economic Transformation: A Case Study of Yuan Village
by Chen Shi and Yunlong Li
Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7250; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167250 - 11 Aug 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2221
Abstract
To mitigate persistent urban–rural disparities and facilitate comprehensive rural development, the Chinese government institutionalized the Rural Revitalization Strategy. This national policy framework systematically addresses five critical domains of rural development: (1) industrial revitalization, (2) talent revitalization, (3) organizational capacity building, (4) cultural heritage [...] Read more.
To mitigate persistent urban–rural disparities and facilitate comprehensive rural development, the Chinese government institutionalized the Rural Revitalization Strategy. This national policy framework systematically addresses five critical domains of rural development: (1) industrial revitalization, (2) talent revitalization, (3) organizational capacity building, (4) cultural heritage preservation, and (5) ecological conservation. Among them, talent cultivation serves as both a fundamental objective and critical resource for the sustainable rural economic transformation. However, the existing research and practice have disproportionately emphasized industrial and ecological aspects, largely neglecting the acute talent shortage. This study bridges this gap by adopting a population mobility lens to categorize young talent types contributing to Chinese rural economic transformation and analyze their mobility trajectories and resource exchange dynamics. Drawing on an integrated theoretical framework combining Push–Pull Theory and Existence–Relatedness–Growth Theory, as well as empirical evidences from Yuan Village in Shaanxi Province, this research has four key findings. First, there are three distinct young talent categories that have emerged in Chinese rural economic transformation: urban-to-rural young talents, native young talents, and rural-to-rural young talents. It is noteworthy that the rural-to-rural young talent represents a novel flow pattern that can expand our conventional understandings of Chinese population mobility. Second, differential push–pull factors shape each category’s migration decisions, subsequently influenced by their existence needs, social relatedness, and growth requirements as outlined in ERG Theory. Third, through heterogeneous resource exchanges with villagers, committees, and communities, these talents negotiate their positions and satisfy their expectations within the rural socio-economic system. Fourth, unmet exchange expectations may precipitate talent outflow, which will further pose sustainability challenges to revitalization efforts. Additionally, the long-term impacts of the intensified social interactions between talent groups and local residents, as well as their generalizability, require further examination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 1458 KB  
Article
Analysis of Influencing Factors on Cognition and Behavioral Responses Regarding Green Development of Farming Households in Tibetan Areas—Taking Hezuo City as an Example
by Maoyuan Zhao and Yongchun Yang
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3693; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083693 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1012
Abstract
As an ecologically fragile and agriculture-dominated region in China, the Tibetan area is in urgent need of green transformation. Based on the survey data of 59 farmers in 16 villages in Hezuo City, this paper empirically examines the influencing factors and decision-making logic [...] Read more.
As an ecologically fragile and agriculture-dominated region in China, the Tibetan area is in urgent need of green transformation. Based on the survey data of 59 farmers in 16 villages in Hezuo City, this paper empirically examines the influencing factors and decision-making logic of the green production behaviors of farmers in Hezuo City using the Double Hurdle model and the moderated model, and the results show the following: (1) Cognitive norms and environmental regulations are the key elements determining the green production intentions and behavioral responses of farmers, and the driving effect of cognitive norms on behavioral response shows a declining trend in comparison with behavioral intention. Compared with behavioral intention, the effect of cognitive norms on behavioral response showed a downward trend. (2) The consistency between group social cognition and green production cognition significantly influences the behavioral intentions and behavioral responses of farmers regarding green production in Hezuo City. This is conducive to promoting farmers’ intentions to engage in and their continuous response to green production. (3) The role of environmental regulation in enhancing green production intention and behavioral response is more consistent and significant. However, it cannot continuously promote a green production response by influencing green production intention again. The green development strategy can help to align farmers’ cognitive and behavioral responses to green production. It is recommended that the government use environmental regulation as the primary means of driving the current green transformation in Tibetan areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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24 pages, 1232 KB  
Review
Frugal Innovation and Patent Analysis in Sericulture: Lessons for Sustainable Rural Bioeconomy Systems
by Mónica Fernanda Suárez-Sánchez, Humberto Merritt, Carlos Victor Muñoz-Ruiz, Mauricio Suárez-Sánchez, Ernesto Oregel-Zamudio and Sergio Arias-Martínez
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10026; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210026 - 10 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1417
Abstract
Sericulture sustains rural livelihoods in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where it provides income for women, elderly workers, and smallholder households. Yet this sector faces a critical technological divide: traditional reeling methods remain labor-intensive and uncompetitive, while industrial innovations advance along trajectories that [...] Read more.
Sericulture sustains rural livelihoods in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where it provides income for women, elderly workers, and smallholder households. Yet this sector faces a critical technological divide: traditional reeling methods remain labor-intensive and uncompetitive, while industrial innovations advance along trajectories that are poorly suited to low-resource contexts. This article presents a patent landscape of silk-reeling technologies retrieved from Espacenet and PATENTSCOPE (2000–2024), comprising 212 unique records. Patents were evaluated against six criteria: resource efficiency, knowledge accessibility, durability and reparability, context adaptability, equity and inclusion, and by-product valorization. This review reveals a strong industrial bias, with most patents emphasizing energy-intensive steaming, mechanized feeding, and digital control, while only a small fraction addresses rural conditions or social inclusion. Current innovations therefore tend to marginalize traditional producers from emerging bio-based value chains. This study contributes to discussions on how technological design can support rural sericulture, highlighting the need for resource-efficient, modular, and socially inclusive solutions. Future research should extend patent analysis to mulberry cultivation, silkworm breeding, and by-product recovery to fully integrate sericulture into the circular bioeconomy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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Other

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32 pages, 1831 KB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of the Constraints, Food, and Income Contribution of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables by Small-Scale Farming Households in Sub-Saharan Africa
by Nkosingimele Ndwandwe, Melusi Sibanda and Nolwazi Zanele Khumalo
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1187; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031187 - 24 Jan 2026
Viewed by 837
Abstract
Food security and income generation remain a critical issue for small-scale farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to population growth, climate change, and market instability. Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) offer high nutritional value and have the capability to mitigate food insecurity but [...] Read more.
Food security and income generation remain a critical issue for small-scale farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to population growth, climate change, and market instability. Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) offer high nutritional value and have the capability to mitigate food insecurity but are underutilized due to social stigma. This review aims to systematically analyze the food and income contribution of cultivation and utilization of ILVs by small-scale farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa. This review analyses the literature on the role of ILV cultivation in enhancing food security and household income over the past two decades. A systematic search across five databases was conducted and identified 53 relevant studies. Findings indicate that ILVs contribute significantly to household nutrition and income through consumption and surplus sales. However, ILV cultivation faces barriers such as climate change, pest infestations, land degradation, water scarcity, insecure land tenure, limited agricultural training, poor communication networks, and restricted market access. Policy interventions are necessary to support small-scale farmers in ILV cultivation by providing agricultural extension services, promoting sustainable farming practices, and integrating ILVs into food security strategies. Further research should examine policy frameworks and supply chain mechanisms to enhance farmer participation and economic benefits from ILV production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 867 KB  
Essay
Enhancing Innovation Performance in Chinese Agribusinesses: A Dynamic Panel–QCA of Configurational Effects
by Yanshuang Chu and Bingqun Cui
Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11250; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411250 - 16 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 708
Abstract
The strengthened role of agribusinesses as innovators depends on improvements in their innovation performance, yet how to achieve this remains unresolved. Grounded in the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework and drawing on 2020–2022 panel data from 73 Chinese agribusinesses, we apply panel–QCA to examine how [...] Read more.
The strengthened role of agribusinesses as innovators depends on improvements in their innovation performance, yet how to achieve this remains unresolved. Grounded in the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework and drawing on 2020–2022 panel data from 73 Chinese agribusinesses, we apply panel–QCA to examine how R&D personnel, managerial innovativeness, and digital technology adoption interact to generate superior innovation outcomes. The results reveal that no single technological, organizational, or environmental factor constitutes a necessary condition; instead, high innovation performance results from specific configurations. Three dominant pathways are identified: organization-driven, technology–organization synergistic, and organization–technology synergistic. In particular, organizational factors serve as core conditions across all configurations, offering stage-appropriate routes for firms at different development phases. Over time, all three configurations decline under external shocks. Furthermore, heterogeneity across firms underscores the need for tailored, dynamic strategies. Therefore, agribusinesses should “configure by context,” continuously monitor shifting configurational elements, and select adaptive pathways to sustain sustainable innovation performance amid environmental volatility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)
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