Purpose Promoting the dual reduction of fertilizer and pesticide is essential to safeguarding food security and protecting the environment, thereby advancing the transformation of high-value agriculture (HVA). This study examines the impact of government agricultural training on chemical input among vegetable farmers in China, with further investigation into potential mechanisms and household heterogeneity. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on nationally representative longitudinal data from the Rural Fixed Observation Points Survey (RFOPS) of China (2019–2022), this study applies a two-way fixed effects model to empirically evaluate the impact of governmental agricultural training on chemical input use among vegetable farmers. Findings The results reveal that agricultural training significantly contributes to the dual reduction of fertilizer and pesticide expenditures. Mechanism analysis indicates that agricultural training enhances farmers' participation in efficiency-driven production mode – such as agricultural social services and mechanized operations – and facilitates the adoption of green production technologies, including precision irrigation, soil testing and formula fertilization and conservation tillage. Heterogeneity analysis shows that training effects are stronger among farmers with higher education levels, full-time farming status, non-elderly household members and larger operational scales. In addition, agricultural training significantly reduced production expenditures and increased agricultural income. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing robust national-level evidence on how government agricultural training shapes chemical expenditures among vegetable farmers. It also identifies key mechanisms and heterogeneous effects, offering insights for designing targeted and effective training programs to advance the sustainable transformation of high-value agriculture.

Background Vegetarianism is widely recognized for its health and environmental benefits. However, its broader impacts on physical, mental, and social well-being remain underexplored. This study investigates the health and behavioral outcomes associated with vegetarianism across diverse populations. Methods We analysed polygenic scores for vegetarianism (VegPGS) in 495,971 UK Biobank (UKB) participants and performed phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) on 443 health and behavioral traits. Cross-validation analyses were conducted using data from 9,009 vegetarians and 486,962 non-vegetarians. One- and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses explored causal relationships. Findings were further validated in 11,642 participants from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Additionally, machine-learning classification models were developed to predict vegetarian status using behavioral, physiological, and genetic factors. Findings PheWAS identified 57 health-related and 1 behavior-related factor significantly associated with VegPGS, with cross-validation confirming these links. MR analyses supported causal effects of vegetarianism on lower basal metabolic rate, reduced body mass index (BMI), decreased fat mass, and lower risk of type 2 diabetes. CHNS data confirmed associations with lower BMI and diabetes risk in East Asian populations. Machine-learning models achieved high accuracy in predicting vegetarian status (AUC 0.913). Interpretation This study provides robust evidence supporting the metabolic health benefits of vegetarianism. The integration of multimodal genetic, behavioral, and physiological data enhances understanding and prediction of dietary choices, offering valuable insights for policymakers and individuals considering a transition to plant-based diets to achieve sustainability. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 72103187 and 72061147002) and the 2115 Talent Development Program at China Agricultural University. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: UK Biobank is the database for a population-based study involving more than 500,000 UK residents approved by the NHS National Research Ethics Service (Ref: 11/NW/0382). Ethical approval for CHNS was granted by the institutional review committees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Data described in the manuscript will be made available upon application and approval from the UK Biobank. For this study, permission to access and analyse the UK Biobank data was approved under the application 89068.

PurposeThe reconfiguration of rural labor represents a crucial pathway toward adapting to high temperatures. This study examines the mechanisms through which high temperatures influence labor allocation and proposes effective strategies to enhance the adaptability of rural labor forces to these effects.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing panel fixed effects and long differences methods, we examined the short- and long-term effects of high temperatures on labor forces. Income ratios across sectors and non-agricultural training were designed for the investigated mechanisms. Regional heterogeneity was utilized as a potential explanation for variations in estimation results.FindingsWe found that high temperatures increase the non-agricultural workdays for rural labor and decrease agricultural workdays, with a greater long-term impact compared to the short-term. This effect is achieved by altering labor returns in non-agricultural and agricultural sectors and increasing the likelihood of non-agricultural training for labor reallocation. Additionally, we observed significant differences in high-temperature effects between the northern and southern regions.Practical implicationsTo strengthen the rural labor's ability to cope with high temperatures, focus on expanding non-agricultural training in affected regions. This facilitates their transition and enhances resilience.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the short- and long-term effects of high temperatures on rural labor forces in China using micro-level data and the long differences method. It expands existing literature by investigating impact mechanisms, validating findings and analyzing regional heterogeneity.

Trade costs play a crucial role in influencing food expenditure and residents' food choices, which in turn affects their dietary quality. In this paper, the China CGE model was integrated with household survey data to further examine the impact of agricultural trade costs reduction on the agrifood system, capturing variations across food categories and household groups. Our findings indicate that, reducing domestic agricultural trade costs lowers food prices, expands food consumption and production, and improves residents' dietary quality, especially for low-income groups. When domestic agricultural trade costs decrease by 10 % annually from 2025 to 2030, fruit, milk, and aquatic product prices are projected to drop by 15.33 %, 12.88 %, and 10.39 %, respectively. This increase in the consumption of higher-value, currently under-consumed foods is anticipated to promote a more balanced diet, improving dietary quality for 36.78 % of rural residents and 39.07 % of urban residents. Consumption changes will also affect agricultural production and the macro-economy through inter-sectoral linkages. The reduction in domestic agricultural trade costs leads to increased production levels and stimulates growth in both agriculture and the agrifood system GDP. Future efforts should focus on enhancing cold chain logistics for fresh produce, standardizing the Green Channel policy, and strengthening the sustainability of China's agrifood system.

Background:Vegetarianism is widely recognised for its health and environmental benefits. However, its broader impacts on physical, mental and social well-being remain underexplored. This study investigates the health and behavioural outcomes associated with vegetarianism across diverse populations. Methods:We analysed polygenic scores for vegetarianism (VegPGS) in 495 971 UK Biobank participants and performed phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) on 443 health and behavioural traits. Cross-validation analyses were conducted using data from 9009 vegetarians to 486 962 non-vegetarians. One-sample and two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses explored causal relationships. Findings were further validated in 11 642 participants from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Additionally, machine-learning classification models were developed to predict vegetarian status using behavioural, physiological and genetic factors. Findings:PheWAS identified 65 health-related and 2 behaviour-related factors significantly associated with VegPGS, with cross-validation confirming these links. MR analyses supported causal effects of vegetarianism on lower basal metabolic rate, reduced body mass index (BMI), decreased fat mass and lower risk of type 2 diabetes. CHNS data confirmed associations with lower BMI and diabetes risk in East Asian populations. Machine-learning models achieved high accuracy in predicting vegetarian status (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.913±0.018, area under the precision-recall curve (PR-AUC)=0.40). Interpretation:This study provides robust evidence supporting the metabolic health benefits of vegetarianism. The integration of multimodal genetic, behavioural and physiological data enhances understanding and prediction of dietary choices, offering valuable insights for policymakers and individuals considering a transition to plant-based diets to achieve sustainability.

Open-air straw burning (OSB) is a practice prevalent in developing countries that presents substantial risks to public health. However, the prevalence of OSB in these countries is not due to the absence of regulations but the insufficient enforcement of existing regulations at the local level. This study investigates an OSB management reform in China, which aims to leverage digital technology, specifically satellites, to enhance the local enforcement of OSB regulations. We evaluate the effectiveness of this reform by exploring a unique county-level satellite-based dataset and employing a staggered difference-in-differences approach combined with the two-part model. We found that this reform led to a reduction in counties' OSB spots by 56.50%. Furthermore, its effectiveness is higher in counties with higher fiscal expenditure-to-revenue ratios, designation as national ecological function zones, higher levels of agricultural mechanization, and livestock production. These findings underscore the importance of digital technology in OSB governance and other related environmental governance areas by enhancing transparency and information flow in the local enforcement of regulations.

Environmental information disclosure (EID) policies have been used in many jurisdictions, yet the impact on the environment and economic performance of enterprises remains a question. This study examines China's mandatory EID policy implemented in 2014 as an example of the potential relationship between environmental policy and enterprise performance. We applied a difference-in-differences (DID) and propensity score matching (PSM) sampling method to examine the issue, using a panel dataset of nearly 90 sugar enterprises in Guangxi in China from 2008 to 2016. Earnings before income and tax and pollution emissions are considered as proxies of economic and environmental performance, respectively. The results show that the 2014 MEID policy has a significantly positive effect on pollution reduction and a significantly adverse effect on economy. These effects vary with corporation size and ownership. Production shrinkage appears to be the main reason for pollution reduction in Guangxi's sugar industry rather than technological innovation in the pollution treatment process. Furthermore, we discuss the study's limitations and policy implications.

The impact of climate change on crop production remains a major concern around the world, as cropping is directly linked to global food security. Therefore, accurately estimating the effects on farmers' crop production is crucial for effective adaptation strategies. We employ the panel Ricardian model to estimate the impact of changes in temperature and precipitation on crop net revenue, using a 17-year panel dataset that includes similar to 180,000 households in China. Our analysis accounts for market price differences and interactions between temperature and precipitation, and farmers' adaptation to climate change. We found that temperature and precipitation significantly impact crop net revenue, with farmers' adaptations partially mitigating these effects. The effects of temperature change on crop net revenue vary among different seasons, with the negative consequences of maximum daily temperature (T-max) concentrated in spring and autumn, and the positive effects of minimum daily temperature (T-min) only being seen in autumn. Additionally, precipitation negatively impacts crops mainly in autumn and winter. Climate change impact is more pronounced for cash crops compared to grain crops and for large farms relative to small farms. The negative effects of spring temperature are concentrated in northern regions, whereas southern regions are more sensitive to temperature and precipitation in autumn. Furthermore, simulations of future climate patterns suggest that the impact of T-max on crop production is decreasing, while the negative effect of increasing T-min is increasing.

The overall adaptation level and mechanisms of grain production to climate change are estimated using national rural fixed observation points data. Adaptive behaviors have alleviated 52.5 ​%–63.5 ​% of the adverse impacts of high temperatures, with rice and maize more adaptable than wheat. However, adaptive behavior has not effectively mitigated excessive precipitation impacts. Technological progress, adaptation technology adoption, and input adjustments are key adaptation mechanisms. Future efforts should enhance agricultural technological contributions to comprehensively strengthen the adaptation capacity of grain production to climate change.

PurposeWhile the adverse health consequences of obesity are well-documented, the causal effect between obesity and economic outcomes, particularly individual income in the labor market, has yielded inconsistent findings. At the same time, China has the highest number of obese or overweight people around the world in recent years. However, limited research has examined the causal effect of obesity on Chinese rural residents’ income. To answer this question, our study aims to identify the causal impact of obesity on Chinese rural residents.Design/methodology/approachFirst, we conduct ordinary least squares, instrumental variable and Mendelian randomization methods to evaluate the impact of obesity on Chinese rural residents’ income. Then, we employ quantile regression and instrumental variable quantile regression to investigate the potential distributional impacts of obesity across various income segments. For the generality of our results, we also use 485,849 samples from the UK Biobank and the two-sample Mendelian randomization method to analyze.FindingsOur one-sample Mendelian randomization analysis, based on a sample of 441 people collected from rural China in 2019 and 2021, revealed that obesity reduced residents’ annual income by 647.87 China Yuan. Results from the UK further support our findings. We also find that the adverse causal impact of obesity on income is significant in individuals within the above 50th percentile of the income distribution. Additionally, childhood obesity has a long-term adverse effect on income in adulthood.Research limitations/implicationsThese results contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the economic costs of obesity. Weight penalties may lead to a deviation from the efficiency that should be pursued in the labor market and widen income disparity.Originality/valueWe provide novel and robust instrumental variables and utilize the Mendelian randomization method to analyze the effect of obesity on Chinese rural residents.

Sustainable agri-waste utilization is a crucial stage in transforming agricultural production into low-carbon. Straws, as the primary agricultural waste, are not effectively reused by farmers in developing countries. Burning straws can be widely observed and it is one of the main sources of CO2 and PM2.5 emissions from the agricultural sector. Since 2013, China has reformed its agri-waste governance to promote sustainable use of straws. However, few studies have analyzed the structural change and field operation of its agri-waste policies, and limited evidence has been drawn on the effectiveness of these policies. The objective of our article is to investigate the reform of China's straw governance and examine the effectiveness of such reform with a specific focus on farmers in the Northeast China. We used both qualitative and quantitative approaches to investigate how China's straw governance reform was designed and implemented, and how effectiveness of such reforms in addressing the field straw-burning issue in Northeast China. Field observation shows that the reforms were designed and implemented with two hybrid policy instruments: (a) a command-and-control (C&C) measures that used satellite-based straw-burning data to evaluate the straw-burning monitoring performance of local governments and village committees and (b) a market-based instruments (MBIs) that provide subsidies to the industries and cooperatives for sustainable straw use. The empirical results show that reform significantly decreased farmers' straw burning behavior and increased their straw field returning and straw bailing for power generation.

Nutrition education interventions are widely used globally but with mixed results. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of a nutrition education and a precise message (awareness-raising) intervention on nutrition knowledge and dietary quality of households in rural China. Treatment groups first received a lecture on the Chinese Food Guide Pagoda, and then all family members were measured for height and weight and informed of household overweight status. We analyzed 358 households before and after this intervention. Participants in the treatment group increased their dietary knowledge by 6% and improved their dietary quality by 8% after the intervention. The intervention effects were stronger for households with more than 25% and 50% of overweight people. Our study provides evidence that an intervention based on general nutrition information and delivery of a precise message to households can effectively improve dietary quality. Our findings inform the food policy debate on whether nutrition information interventions are effective. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition information intervention to improve dietary quality in rural China.

Using scanner data on the consumption of packaged liquid beverages by Chinese urban households, we estimated the price elasticity of various beverages and compared the effects of volume-based versus sugar-content-based taxation strategies on consumer welfare. Compared to the volume-based tax, the sugar-content-based beverage tax was predicted to cost less in compensating variation under the same amount of sugar reduced, indicating that taxation based on sugar contents may be more efficient in preserving consumer welfare. Further comparison across different socioeconomic groups reveals that, given current beverage consumption statuses in China, the efficiency advantage of the sugar-content-based taxation strategy is more pronounced than that of the volume-based taxation. Our conclusions can provide insights for the food industry and the government to reduce the sugar content in beverages.

Sustainable agricultural development requires comprehending the fundamental factors influencing farmers' adoption of safe production behavior. This study investigates intrinsic and extrinsic determinants, encompassing the influence of individual self-regulation and external monitoring, regarding the endorsement of safe labor practices among farmers in Kuan-Chung Plain, China. The findings underscore the pivotal role of personal self-regulation in stimulating farmers' implementation of safe production behavior. Additionally, governmental and public monitoring can act as catalysts, motivating farmers to shift from conventional agricultural production methods to safer alternatives. Moreover, the results revealed that a synergistic effect arises from the collaboration between public and governmental monitoring, combined with individual self-regulation. This collaborative approach significantly enhances farmers' propensity to embrace safe production behavior. Hence, policymakers should prioritize educating farmers on ethical restraint, optimizing policy strategies, and strengthening supervision practices to establish an effective platform for public monitoring. These measures will augment farmers' comprehension of the significance of safe production behavior and empower them to proactively implement these behaviors.

Domestic trade flow in China is an indispensable factor affecting food availability to the public. The aim of this study is to focus on the cost of domestic trade within China and the dietary health of Chinese residents. Based on the China-regional input-output tables and the CHNS micro-database, we calculated China's domestic trade costs and Healthy Eating Index (HEI) of Chinese urban and rural residents. We find that domestic trade costs are negatively correlated with residents' whole grain and mixed beans, vegetables, fruits, beef, mutton, poultry, and aquatic products consumption, having a significant negative influence on residents' dietary quality score. Domestic trade costs can influence residents' food consumption structure by affecting income and traditional market scores. Domestic trade costs have a greater negative influence on the dietary quality of rural residents, low-income residents, and elderly residents. The results suggest that reducing domestic trade costs increased residents' food consumption and improved their dietary quality. Increasing the people's income and stimulating traditional markets can alleviate the decline in dietary quality of the population caused by an increase in domestic trade costs.

Using scanner data on the consumption of packaged liquid beverages by Chinese urban households,we estimated the price elasticity of various beverages and compared the effects of volume-based versus sugar-content-based taxation strategies on consumer welfare.Compared to the volume-based tax,the sugar-content-based beverage tax was predicted to cost less in compensating variation under the same amount of sugar reduced,indicating that taxation based on sugar content may be more efficient in preserving consumer welfare.Further comparison across different socioeconomic groups reveals that,given current beverage consumption status in China,the efficiency advantage of the sugar-content-based taxation strategy is more pronounced than that of the volume-based taxation.Our conclusions can provide insights for the food industry and the government to reduce the sugar content in beverages.

Over the past few decades, the Internet has rapidly diffused across China. The spread of the Internet has had a profound economic and social impact on Chinese rural areas. Existing research shows that Internet access significantly impacts agricultural production and improves smallholder farmers’ income. Beyond these, the Internet can affect other dimensions of social welfare. However, research about the impact of Internet access on dietary quality in rural China remains scarce. This study utilizes multi-period panel data from Fixed Observation Point in rural China from 2009 to 2015 to estimate the impact of Internet access on dietary quality and food consumption of rural households and conducts a causal analysis. Regression models with time and household fixed effects allow robust estimation while reducing potential issues of unobserved heterogeneity. The estimates show that Internet access has significantly increased rural household dietary quality (measured by the Chinese Diet Balance Index). Further research finds that Internet access has increased the consumption of animal products, such as aquatic and dairy products. We also examine the underlying mechanisms. Internet access improves dietary quality and food consumption mainly through increasing household income and food expenditure. These results encourage the promotion of Internet access as a valuable tool for nutritional improvements, especially in rural areas.

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in crop production while ensuring emission equity is crucial for sustainable agriculture in China, yet long-term large-scale data on GHG emissions intensity (GEI) are limited. Using an extensive dataset based on surveyed farm households (n > 430,000 households) from 1993 to 2020, we reveal that 2015 was a turning point for GEI levels, which dropped 16% in 2020, while inequality-measured as average GHG emissions per unit planted area-increased 13%. The key driving forces behind such trends included farmland input, all other inputs, agricultural labour input and total factor productivity but not capital input. Notably, farmland input and all other inputs contributed to 80% of the inequality, while contribution of total factor productivity gradually declined and was replaced by migration-induced agricultural labour input differences. Reducing GEI levels and guarding against widening inequality require optimizing production factor inputs.

粮食安全是国家安全的重要基础,是事关人类生存的根本性问题.虽然中国粮食产量和储备能力都有了显著提升,但结构性矛盾突出,资源环境压力增大,粮食增产后劲不足.建设农业强国背景下,中国保障粮食安全的观念发生了重要改变:范畴从注重数量安全转向数量、质量和营养安全并举,思路从实现增产增收转向统筹增产、增收和增效,主体从小农户生产为主转向鼓励新型农业经营主体开展规模经营,驱动力从依靠化学投入品转向依靠科技创新.为此,应立足当前粮食安全的新观念、新目标,从党政同责、耕地保护、科技创新、粮食补贴、节粮减损等方面构建更高层次、更高质量、更有效率、更可持续的粮食安全保障机制,提高粮食综合生产能力与供给保障能力.

大豆生产者补贴是近年来中国尝试促进大豆生产振兴的重要政策工具,该政策如何影响农户决策值得深入探讨.本文基于全国农村固定观察点2016-2020年的5期数据,系统考察了大豆生产者补贴对农户土地投入决策行为的影响.研究发现:在大豆生产者补贴的激励下,农户主要通过增加土地转入面积或调整种植结构两种方式实现大豆扩种,且该补贴对农户扩种大豆的激励效应在年份间呈现先减后增的U型变化趋势.总体上看,由于大豆生产者补贴使土地转入者面临地租上涨困境,农户更倾向于通过调整种植结构的方式扩大大豆种植面积,即提高大豆面积占比.但不同群体之间差异明显:相对于小规模和中等规模农户,大豆生产者补贴对较大规模农户扩种大豆的激励效果更强;较大规模农户主要通过转入土地和调整种植结构的方式扩种大豆,而小规模农户更倾向于通过调整种植结构的方式实现大豆扩种.