Sustainable kiwifruit production through "green food" certification in China | |
| Author | Dong, Li |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.AS-25-03 |
| Subject(s) | Kiwifruit--Standards--China Kiwifruit industry--China Sustainable agriculture--China |
| Note | A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Systems and Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The transition toward sustainable agricultural practices has become increasingly critical in addressing environmental degradation and food safety concerns. Green food certification (GFC) offers a promising solution; however, its adoption among kiwifruit farmers in China remains limited due to financial constraints, varying levels of social capital, and generational differences. This dissertation systematically explores the determinants of farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for GFC, their willingness to adopt (WTAd) and actual adoption behavior, and evaluates the certification’s impact on the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the kiwifruit industry. This research investigates kiwifruit farmers’ WTP and WTAd for GFC, focusing on the role of social capital in shaping their decisions. Data were collected from 404 farmers across major kiwifruit-producing provinces using a structured household survey. A non-parametric contingent valuation method estimated expected WTP, while a double-hurdle model analyzed the impact of social capital on WTAd and WTP. Results showed that 51% of kiwifruit farmers were willing to adopt GFC, while only 34% were willing to pay for it, with the average WTP being CNY 912.24 per household per year. Key social capital factors, including network strength and institutional trust, significantly influenced both WTAd and WTP. Additionally, training participation and perceived benefits positively impacted both willingness dimensions, whereas socio-demographic factors, such as age, education, and household labor availability, exhibited nuanced effects.Furthermore, the second part of this research addresses the factors influencing the adoption willingness and the actual behavior of GFC adoption, as well as the intergenerational gaps. Using the same dataset, a bivariate Probit model was employed to disaggregate adoption into two stages: willingness and behavior. The results revealed that participation in training, education, farm labor, perceived benefits, perceived risk, and access to information through organizational, farmer, and network channels significantly influenced both stages. Specifically, perceived cost impacted willingness, while the age of kiwifruit orchards affected actual adoption behavior. Importantly, the findings demonstrated significant intergenerational differences in the factors affecting willingness and behavior, emphasizing the need for cross generational training and information dissemination strategies.Finally, the dissertation examines the impact of GFC adoption on the sustainable development of the kiwifruit industry, integrating economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Propensity score matching was applied to address selection bias, while the entropy weighting method constructed a composite sustainability index. Findings indicate that GFC significantly enhances overall sustainability, leading to higher net incomes, increased income diversity, greater organic fertilizer use, and reduced reliance on chemical inputs. Social sustainability was also improved through increased community employment opportunities, though challenges remain in improving straw return rates and strengthening community participation. These results highlight the pivotal role of GFC in promoting sustainable agricultural transformation and offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to refine certification schemes and enhance rural sustainability outcomes |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural Systems and Engineering (ASE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Datta, Avishek;Zulfiqar, Farhad (Co-Chairperson) |
| Examination Committee(s) | Tsusaka, Takuji W.;Salin, Krishna R. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | China Scholarship Council (CSC) |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |