More than twenty years ago, a group of pioneering farmers and social organisations blazed a trail for “ecological agriculture” in China. Driven by a commitment to food safety and a heartfelt dedication to environmental protection, they set about experimenting with farming without pesticides, chemical fertilisers or herbicides.
Whether newcomers starting from scratch or traditional farmers transitioning from conventional agriculture, many were initially unaware of just how technically demanding this field could be, with very few experts or peers in the country able to offer guidance.
Since its founding, Foodthink has walked alongside them every step of the way. We have told the stories of more than 40 small-scale ecological farmers, persistently investigated the state of ecological agriculture in China, witnessed its diversity and potential, and seen the transformations and perseverance of our farming colleagues.
● In January 2019, Foodthink and the Beijing Organic Farmers Market co-hosted the Farming Colleagues’ Assembly at China Agricultural University, bringing together ecological farming colleagues, consumers and sales platforms.We have found that, as the industry matures, many producers have gradually developed a range of ecological agriculture techniques tailored to local conditions, while ecological agriculture experts increasingly head out into the fields to offer guidance to farming colleagues. Training and exchange among the various grassroots schools of ecological agriculture have also promoted the practice and advancement of ecological growing methods. How exactly does ecological agriculture harness a deep understanding of natural ecosystems to yield healthy, delicious produce without relying on chemical inputs? And what common ground can different farming systems and technical schools offer to those just entering the field?
Foodthink has compiled our past articles discussing ecological agriculture techniques, hoping to be of help to farming colleagues new to the field, and hoping that consumers will develop a greater understanding of ecological agriculture and its practitioners.
I. Pest and Disease Management: “Prevention over Cure”
Without recourse to chemical substances such as insecticides and fungicides, “prevention over cure” is a key principle in ecological agriculture pest and disease management. Its core lies in maintaining the balance of farmland ecosystems and strengthening crops’ natural resilience through greater biodiversity and healthier soils, thereby reducing reliance on pesticides.
● Left: Shandong farming colleague Li Lijun introduces ladybirds into apple orchards to control aphid populations; right: at Xiqing Farm in Beijing, cabbage white caterpillars feeding on green beans have been parasitised and killed by naturally occurring Beauveria bassiana.
The first step in preventing pest damage is to “learn to observe”. Only by recording crop growth cycles, observing the causes and patterns behind pest infestations, and understanding the relationship between climatic conditions, crop development and pest outbreaks can one identify vulnerabilities for targeted intervention.
Farming colleagues have also found that not all insects and weeds detrimental to crops need to be eradicated entirely. On the contrary, farmland with rich biodiversity can provide habitat for a wide range of natural enemy insects and microorganisms, harnessing mutual checks among species to build a more robust ecological chain.
● In the biodiverse farmland at Tianfu Garden in Beijing, weeds growing alongside vegetables help keep pest populations in check, while wildflowers and grasses provide nectar sources and habitat for a variety of insects, preventing large-scale pest and disease outbreaks.
Intercropping and diversified planting also offer natural advantages in preventing large-scale pest and disease outbreaks. In addition, natural enemies can be deliberately introduced for biological control, or homemade botanical plant-protection solutions can be applied to boost the resilience of crops and soil.
II. Soil Management: Ever-Renewing Soil Fertility
As the nutrient source for crops, soil management is of paramount importance to ecological agriculture without chemical fertilisers. The core of nutrient management in ecological agriculture lies in maintaining and enhancing the soil’s natural fertility. Through practices such as retaining grasses, growing green manure and no-till farming, weeds that would otherwise compete with crops for nutrients are transformed into natural fertiliser factories, left to grow and decompose naturally to promote the accumulation of organic matter and the enhancement of microbial diversity in the soil, ultimately achieving a natural cycle of soil fertility.
● Left: after the rice harvest at Dali Guiling Farm, straw mulching is applied to return organic matter to the land; right: Xie Yanping, an ecological farming colleague in Guangxi, cuts grass in the Xingfu Guo Baicao Garden – managing grass growth at the right moment so that it serves the land is a key step in the practice of retaining grasses.● Wogan mandarins fallen in the orchard and “feeding nutrients back” are coated in a layer of white beneficial microorganisms, indicating a healthy soil microbiome capable of rapidly decomposing and absorbing organic matter.
Furthermore, diversified cropping, maintaining vegetative cover and adopting conservation tillage can also significantly improve soil structure and enhance soil vitality.
III. Intensive Cultivation in Harmony with Nature
Ecological agriculture emphasises respect for and harmony with the laws of nature, but this does not mean that farms can simply leave things to take their own course.
● Left: “imported soil” strawberry cultivation at Xiqing Farm in Beijing – every ridge is filled with growing medium personally blended by farm owner Wang Xin, who fine-tunes the mix each year to suit changing conditions; right: during the strawberry growing season, Wang Xin removes runners every morning so that nutrients are channelled into the existing flowers and fruit.
Compared with field crops, which are managed relatively extensively, fruit crops such as strawberries demand meticulous observation and intervention in temperature, light, nutrition and water management.
Technology-intensive vegetable farms, for their part, develop strict production plans tailored to the farm’s climate and crop growth characteristics, formulate nutrient-balanced seedling growing medium, carry out leaf-litter composting to simulate natural conditions, use “soil solarisation” to sterilise the soil, and meticulously manage every aspect of the growing environment for their crops.
Unlike conventional agriculture, which pursues high yields above all else, ecological agriculture consistently emphasises a holistic perspective – looking beyond crop yield and quality alone to situate agricultural production within the context of the entire ecosystem. Agricultural science can be subdivided into many disciplinary fields, including soil science, cultivation and plant pathology, yet in farming colleagues’ technical exchanges one cannot fail to notice that every single operation “pulls at one thread and sets the whole system in motion”, affecting the health of soils, crops, insects and microorganisms alike. When operations are well judged, they often deliver comprehensive gains across multiple dimensions – improved ecological conditions, greater biodiversity and more effective resource recycling.
IV. Farming Systems and Schools of Practice
Beyond documenting the growing techniques of China’s small-scale ecological farmers, Foodthink also takes a keen interest in agricultural philosophies and farming systems around the world, and in how each addresses the relationship between people, nature and crops. Through our coverage of permaculture, natural farming, Australian biodynamic farming, regenerative agriculture and other schools of practice, we have found that while each system differs in philosophy, development trajectory and specific techniques, they all centre on core objectives such as enhancing soil quality and restoring farmland ecosystems. Through the long-term research and practice of farmers and scientists across the world, each has gradually evolved approaches adapted to local conditions.
What is more, the common ground shared among these systems outweighs their differences.
We have found that many experienced farmers are not bound to any one particular system. Instead, once they have fully grasped the underlying principles, they draw insights together from across the schools, adapt to their own circumstances, and adjust continuously – truly making different farming systems work for them.
V. Technology Extension and Practice
From grasping scientific principles to putting farming systems and techniques into practice, from drawing on traditional knowledge to applying modern technology, advancing ecological agriculture calls not only for support in production techniques but, even more, for an understanding of and reflection on the needs and values of farming colleagues. Over the past decade, a number of ecological agriculture training courses and “farmer field schools” led primarily by farming colleagues themselves have also emerged. Through the learning process, farming colleagues have strengthened their exchanges with one another, gradually forming what are, in the truest sense, “learning communities”.
● In 2021, Guangxi Guoren hosted an ecological agriculture soil-building course. Above, the instructor and farming colleagues work together to make compost, learning through hands-on practice.● Group photo from the Australian biodynamic farming in-person training course in autumn 2023. Photo credit: Lüwo Farm● Lijun, a farming colleague from Shandong (far left), is frequently invited to various regions to share techniques with young farming colleagues engaged in ecological agriculture.
Although China boasts a rich and profound farming culture and tradition, industrialised agriculture continues to advance by leaps and bounds under the dual impetus of policy and capital. Ecological agriculture remains a niche, even marginal, sector in China, and small-scale ecological farmers scattered across the country, especially the younger generation newly entering the industry, still need sustained support. For ecological agriculture to continue taking root and flourishing across the wider countryside, farming colleagues must understand the science behind it and master the techniques best suited to their own circumstances.
Building on three consecutive years of the Ecological Agriculture Internship Programme, in 2024 Foodthink will join forces with scientists, seasoned agricultural technicians, experienced ecological farming colleagues, and partner organisations who have long been working in rural areas to launch agricultural training courses that meet the genuine needs of small-scale ecological farmers.
Farming colleagues who are interested are welcome to click “here” to fill in the farming colleagues’ technical needs questionnaire and tell us about your genuine needs. Those who complete the form will have the opportunity to receive a scholarship to offset tuition fees for attending the training.
Meanwhile, preparations for the ecological agriculture training courses are already well under way. We warmly invite partners who care about ecological agriculture techniques to stay tuned to Foodthink for the latest updates!
