The Six Musts That Must Be Upheld in Developing Ecological Agriculture
Developing ecological agriculture, transforming the mode of agricultural development, and taking the path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics are effective ways to advance ecological civilization construction, an effective guarantee for the sustained and healthy development of the agricultural and rural economy, and are of great significance to advancing the building of an environment-friendly and resource-conserving society.
The core of ecological agriculture is to use the thinking of sustainable development, the theory of the circular economy, and the concept of industrial chain extension, and through agricultural technological innovation and changes in organizational methods, adjust and optimize the internal structure and industrial structure of the agro-ecosystem, extend the industrial chain, improve the multi-level cyclic utilization of matter and energy in the agricultural system, strictly control the input of external harmful substances and the generation of agricultural waste, minimize environmental pollution and ecological damage, and achieve a virtuous ecological cycle and harmonious development of rural areas.
Judging from the current carrying capacity of China's agricultural ecological resources and environment, ensuring the supply of agricultural products and improving the agricultural ecological environment are two goals that must both be taken into account.
To develop ecological agriculture, it is necessary to realize and satisfy the “six musts” and grasp well the “four focuses.” The “six musts”: First, developing ecological agriculture must meet the fundamental need of safeguarding national food security. Second, developing ecological agriculture must adapt to the development requirements of the new stage of the “four synchronizations.” Third, developing ecological agriculture must establish the concept that “resources and the environment have value.” Fourth, developing ecological agriculture must adapt to the basic national condition of a large population and little land, with rigid resource constraints. Fifth, developing ecological agriculture must adapt to China's basic rural operational system. Sixth, developing ecological agriculture must adapt to the needs of agricultural development in different regions of China.
The “four focuses”: First, focus on production, living, and ecology, and promote coordinated development. Second, focus on the cyclic utilization of resources and achieve environmental friendliness. Third, focus on resource conservation and advance clean energy production. Fourth, focus on functional expansion, extend the industrial chain, and achieve effective allocation of resources, resource utilization of waste, and minimal discharge of pollutants.