Public –private partnership model for intensive maize production in China: A synergistic strategy for food security and ecosystem economic budget

Small farms are the mainstay of maize production in China. Its productivity is relatively low despite large farm inputs and the associated environmental footprints. We studied public –private partnership (PPP) model for sustainable maize production to achieve co-benefits of food security and environmental sustainability. And the PPP model provides new insights into improving food security and ecosystem and economic budget. AbstractSmall farms are the mainstay of maize production in China. Its productivity is relatively low despite large farm inputs and the associated environmental footprints. Here, we studied public –private partnership (PPP) model for sustainable intensification of maize production to achieve co-benefits of food security and environmental sustainability. The PPP model enabled the development of an effective partnership by bringing complementary skills, knowledge, proprietary products and tec hnologies, and resources of public research community and private enterprises to create a new, operational maize farming system in China. We conducted on-farm research with farmer participation in four major maize-growing regions spanning temperate to sub-tropical zones in China for 2 years. The PP P model achieved 78.7% of maize yield potential compared with 61.8% realized in smallholder farm (SHF) (11.0 Mg ha−1 vs. 8.6  Mg ha−1). Overall, environmental externalities of PPP were up to 32.7% lower than that of SHF, depending on the region studied. PPP signif...
Source: Food and Energy Security - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL RESEARCH Source Type: research