Abstract
Eco-efficiency is a tool for sustainability analysis that indicates how to carry out economic activities effectively. This paper assesses agricultural eco-efficiency using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the Theil index approach. Using basic data of 31 provinces in China during 2003–2013, we analyzed the agricultural eco-efficiency development level and spatial pattern in China. The results show that the agricultural eco-efficiency of only four provinces has been relatively efficient in the entire study period, namely, Zhejiang, Hainan, Chongqing, and Tibet. The results also show that agricultural eco-efficiency was higher mainly in south of the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River Line and north of the Yangtze River area, that agricultural eco-efficiency is mainly affected by pure technical efficiency, and that highly efficient areas are mainly concentrated in the densely populated areas, i.e., the economic developed areas (except Tibet). The Theil index results show that the agricultural eco-efficiency difference weakened between provinces in China, as did western and northeast regions, but eastern and central regions show a slight upward trend.
Highlights
Agriculture is the foundation of human society’s existence and development
The present study shows that the inefficient utilization of land, water, and other fossil resources is the main reason for environmental non-point source pollutions
As one of most popular data envelopment analysis (DEA) models, the slacks-based measure (SBM) model, which was proposed by Tone in 2001 [36,37], considers the input and output of each decision-making unit (DMUs) and provides an effective solution for the slack problem
Summary
Agriculture is the foundation of human society’s existence and development. The vital role of agriculture in providing food and fiber to a rising human population has made this productive activity a privileged field for sustainability analysis. Eco-efficiency refers to the ability of firms, industries, regions, or economies to produce more goods and services with fewer impacts on the environment and requiring less consumption of natural resources, bringing together economic and ecological issues. Later, it was employed and popularized as a way of encouraging companies to become simultaneously more competitive and more environmentally responsible by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) [19]. While humans face the challenge of upholding longer-term sustainability, researchers are providing sound information to improve the design of their environmental policies; eco-efficiency assessment has been developed conceptually. Sustainability 2016, 8, 398 analysis to evaluate regional agricultural eco-efficiency and the regional differences during 2003–2013 to serve as the basis for future policy scenarios
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
