Conflicts of Interests When Connecting Agricultural Advisory Services with Agri-Input Businesses

Min Wan, Rui Gu, Tao Zhang, Yue Zhang, Han Ji, Buyun Wang, Yan Qiao and Stefan Toepfer
Additional contact information
Min Wan: Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs—CABI Joint Laboratory for Biosafety, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Beijing 100193, China
Rui Gu: Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie, Beijing 100081, China
Tao Zhang: Beijing Plant Protection Station, 9 Beisanhuan Zhonglu, Beijing 100029, China
Yue Zhang: Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie, Beijing 100081, China
Han Ji: Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie, Beijing 100081, China
Buyun Wang: Beijing Plant Protection Station, 9 Beisanhuan Zhonglu, Beijing 100029, China
Yan Qiao: Beijing Plant Protection Station, 9 Beisanhuan Zhonglu, Beijing 100029, China
Stefan Toepfer: Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs—CABI Joint Laboratory for Biosafety, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 2 Yuanmingyuan Western Road, Beijing 100193, China

Agriculture, 2019, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Conflicts of interests have been hypothesized when agricultural advisory services are connected to agri-input businesses. However, these have not been examined using large sets of advisory service and grower data. We provide quantitative insights into dependencies between service, crop production, sustainability and the level of agri-input business-linkage of extension workers. We analyzed 34,000+ prescription forms (recommendations) issued to growers in China, as well as grower interview data. Results revealed some conflicts of interest, but to a small extent and not always as expected. Both forms of advisory service (with and without business-linkages) heavily emphasize chemical pest management. However, grower interviews revealed that business-linked advisors recommend pesticides even 18% more often than non-business-linked advisors do (96% vs. 78% of advice). This advice was also often implemented (94% and 90% uptake). There is a slightly higher chance that dangerous pesticides are being recommended by business-linked advisors (0.4% vs. 0.14%), but these advisors recommended antibiotics less frequently (1.6% vs. 2.5%). No effects of the source of advice on yields or grower profits were found. Thus, there is no apparent economic disadvantage of growers taking advice from business-linked advisors. However, if pesticide use is a concern for human health and the environment, then the increased use of such products may further exacerbate existing problems. Depending on national priorities, countries may re-consider moving away from governmental extension services, and more closely analyze the advantages of promoting agri-business-linked advisory services (no public funds, better outreach) versus the disadvantages (slightly higher pesticide risks).

Keywords: crop production; plant protection; consumer risks; environmental risks; agricultural policy; food safety; public and private agricultural extension service; Plantwise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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