Summary:

This report presents fourteen case studies documenting practical actions being taken across China's agri-food system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable practices. The cases are organized around key mitigation actions identified in prior research—covering agricultural production (nitrogen fertilizer reduction, enteric fermentation methane reduction, rice cultivation methane reduction, livestock manure management, agricultural machinery efficiency), farm-to-table stages (food processing energy efficiency, low-carbon transportation, plastics reduction), and food consumption (cooking electrification, kitchen waste resource utilization, dietary shift). Each case study examines specific local practices, analyzes the implementing actors and mechanisms, and identifies the key conditions needed for replication. The cases demonstrate how different stakeholders—from farmers and cooperatives to enterprises, technology providers, and local governments—can contribute to emissions reduction through mechanism design, technological innovation, and behavioral change while generating economic, environmental, and social co-benefits.

Suggested citation:

Chen Meian, Zhu Tongxin, Yu Yang Jinqi, Hu Min. (2023). Building Sustainability into China's Agri-Food System: Fourteen Case Studies [Report]. Beijing: Institute for Global Decarbonization Progress (iGDP). November 2023.

License:

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)