Nitrogen use and the integration of environmental concerns into production

Qiuzhen Chen, Stefan Bäckman and John Sumelius

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2016, vol. 12, issue 1, 53-76

Abstract: The study identifies markets, technologies and policies that influence fertiliser nitrogen (N) use in agriculture by Finland and China. Specifically the study examines how policy measures influence N usage in Finland and compares these with the corresponding policies in China. It was found that greater food security in China is a major driver for its high nitrogen usage. Food security in China is aimed for by manipulating price-ratios of inputs and outputs through direct and indirect subsidies on fertilisers. The dissimilar policy goals and measures between Finland and China explain the differences in N application rates nationally, regionally and over time. The study suggests that the effectiveness of agri-environmental payments and the efficiency of manure use in Finland could be improved, and that reducing N application rates could be a key step for China and would be achieved by market mechanisms determining price-ratios of input to output.

Keywords: agricultural fertilisers; nitrogen rate; economically optimal; constraint levels; policy intervention; price ratio; fertiliser subsidies; cultivation structure; panel data; Finland; China; nitrogen use; environmental concerns; agriculture; food security; policy goals; agri-environmental payments; manure use; market mechanisms. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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