Identifying barriers to sustainable apple production: A stakeholder perspective

Shan Jin,Wenjing Li,Yiying Cao,Glyn Jones,Jing Chen,Zhenhong Li,Qian Chang,Guijun Yang,Lynn J Frewer

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114082

Abstract

Apple is one of the most important cash crops in China. However, negative economic, environmental and social impacts are associated with its production. This study aims to apply a holistic systems perspective to understand existing problems associated with apple production in China and use this information to improve its sustainability. A structured survey was administered to farmers (n = 245) in Shandong and Shanxi provinces, combined with semi-structured interviews with apple supply chain stakeholders (n = 25). Themes, dimensions and relationships were identified based on an inductive thematic analysis of interview data, and then triangulated against the survey data. Interpretive Structural Modelling and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification methods were applied to investigate interrelationships and effects of the elicited elements within the system. The results indicated that various environmental, economic and social problems are associated with apple production in China, including environmental and health risks associated with synthetic input applications, yield instability, deterioration of apple quality, farmers’ uncertainty about accessing routes to market, and the ageing farming workforce. The interaction of socio-economic and supply chain issues has contributed to the system “lock-in” to unsustainable practices within the apple production system. Existing agricultural policies were ineffective as they did not include policy leverage to mitigate the multiple factors driving lock-in to unsustainable practices within the system. The research has provided evidence to enable policymakers to develop effective and targeted strategies to facilitate sustainable production within the apple production system. In particular, the future policy mix should consider the entirety of the food system including perspectives and requirements of different stakeholders. The three-stage approach applied has demonstrated its feasibility of investigating sustainability issues facing a particular industry within a specific cultural and policy context.

Highlights

Promoting sustainable agriculture and, at the same time, delivering food security represents a challenge for many countries (UN, 2015).Global increases in demand for foods have resulted in the use of more synthetic agricultural chemicals and natural resources for food production, which has the potential for negative impacts on the environment and public health (Godfray et al, 2010).Many people who are engaged throughout the entirety of the supply are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods
It is important to simul taneously consider environmental, economic, and social issues associ ated with food production, to ensure agrifood systems are “environmentally non-degrading, technically appropriate, economically viable, and socially acceptable”, thereby facilitating their transition to a higher level of sustainability (FAO, 1989, p. 65; Pretty, 2008)
Most farmers did not realise their lack of knowledge about orchard management, resulting in environmental problems linked to the improper use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides

Summary

Introduction

At the same time, delivering food security represents a challenge for many countries (UN, 2015).Global increases in demand for foods have resulted in the use of more synthetic agricultural chemicals and natural resources (e.g. land and freshwater) for food production, which has the potential for negative impacts on the environment and public health (Godfray et al, 2010).Many people who are engaged throughout the entirety of the supply are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. A variety of environmental, economic, and social problems have been identified within agricultural systems. These include environ mental pollution associated with primary production, negative envi ronmental and health impacts of food processing, and supply chain logistics, negative impacts on natural resource conservation, for example, water and biodiversity, high levels of energy consumption; volatile pricing of agricultural products, unstable farmer access to markets, shortages of farm labour, low farm incomes and farmer dependence on subsidies; negative impacts on food availability and safety, and on the well-being of farming communities and society (e.g. see Maye et al, 2018; Meuwissen et al, 2019; Van Cauwenbergh et al, 2007; Zhu et al, 2018)

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Conclusion