Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Comprehensive Green Transformation of Agricultural Development and Promoting Ecological Revitalization in Rural Areas," focusing on... Promote resource conservation and reduced use of inputs, advance the resource recovery and utilization of waste, foster stability and diversity in agricultural ecosystems, drive a green and low-carbon transformation across the entire agricultural value chain, and strengthen organizational implementation. It proposes 15 specific measures across five key areas.

The Guiding Opinions clearly state that by 2030, the level of green agricultural development will be significantly enhanced; agricultural resource utilization efficiency will steadily improve; the level of waste-to-resource utilization will be markedly raised; environmental protection at agricultural production sites will continue to strengthen; a preliminary green, low-carbon, and circular agricultural industrial system will be established; positive progress will be made in the comprehensive green transformation of agricultural development; the rural ecological environment will be significantly improved; and ecological revitalization of rural areas will be effectively promoted.

By 2035, the level of green agricultural development will be significantly enhanced, green production methods will be largely established, agricultural resource utilization efficiency will reach internationally advanced levels, the agricultural production environment will be comprehensively improved, the agricultural industry’s development will feature smooth circular flows, and the coordinated development of production, living, and ecology will be fully realized. The green, low-carbon, and circular agricultural industrial system will be further refined, rural ecological revitalization will reach a new level, and beautiful, ecologically livable countryside will be largely achieved.

The "Guiding Opinions" clearly outlines 10 key tasks and measures.

One is Strengthen the protection and utilization of arable land resources by requiring localities to enhance arable land management, improve arable land quality, and boost the efficiency of arable land use.

Second is Promote water conservation and efficient use in agricultural irrigation, deepen efforts to enhance agricultural water productivity and efficiency through water-saving measures, and advance agronomic water conservation, engineering-based water conservation, and management-driven water conservation.

Third is Promote Reduce the use of agricultural inputs, promote controlled application and improved efficiency of chemical fertilizers, and reduce the application rate while enhancing the effectiveness of pesticides. Scientific use of plastic mulch and reduced but more effective use of feed and veterinary drugs.

Promote reducing fertilizer application while enhancing its efficiency. Implement actions to enhance the efficiency of scientific fertilization, continuously promote soil-testing-based and formula-specific fertilization, explore quota management for nitrogen fertilizer application in major crops, develop fertilization guidance recommendations tailored to different regions and crop types, and popularize efficient fertilization practices and equipment such as deep-side fertilization, simultaneous seeding and fertilization, and drone-based topdressing. By 2030, the fertilizer utilization rate for the nation’s three major grain crops will reach over 43%.

Promote reduced pesticide use and improved efficacy. Implement an action to enhance the effectiveness of scientific pesticide use, accelerate the integrated promotion of a batch of green pest control and pesticide-reduction-and-efficiency technologies that are economically viable, simple and effective, and readily accepted by farmers. Support the development of a number of specialized pest control organizations equipped with advanced machinery, operating under standardized management practices, and providing high-quality services. Vigorously promote integrated pest management (IPM), and incorporate green control measures such as biological control, physicochemical trapping, and the use of highly efficient, low-risk pesticides into IPM service offerings, thereby fostering the integrated development of green pest control and IPM. By 2030, the coverage rate of green pest control for major crops will reach over 60%, and the coverage rate of integrated pest management for the three staple grain crops will reach over 50%.

Fourth is Strengthen the utilization of livestock and poultry manure as fertilizer by returning it to farmland, promote source reduction, and encourage scientific on-site and nearby application of manure to farmland.

Five is Strengthen the comprehensive utilization of straw, promote both returning straw to the field and removing straw from the field, and enhance management levels.

Six is Accelerate the comprehensive utilization of organic waste from rural households, promote on-site consumption and diversified disposal methods, and improve operational mechanisms.

Seven is Promote ecological protection and restoration in key river basins, advance agricultural ecological restoration in the Yangtze River basin, and strengthen agricultural ecological protection in the Yellow River basin.

Eight is Enhance the ecological value of agriculture, promote energy conservation and carbon reduction in the agricultural sector, steadily advance the substitution of clean energy in rural areas, and rigorously control the risk of invasive alien species.

Nine is Promote green circular practices, advance the adoption of green circular technologies, integrate crop and livestock farming, balance grain and forage production, implement integrated rice-fish farming, and establish organic links among production, living, and ecological cycles.

Ten is Develop a green and low-carbon agricultural industrial chain to promote loss reduction and value addition in processing, lower costs and enhance efficiency in distribution, and improve food safety and quality standards.

The “Guiding Opinions” call for strengthening overall coordination and establishing a mechanism to promote implementation. They emphasize enhancing monitoring and evaluation, improving the standard system, building a comprehensive monitoring framework, and providing robust technical guidance. Furthermore, they advocate for reinforcing policy guidance, increasing financial support for key projects and attracting social and financial investments, and strengthening regulatory oversight. The document also stresses advancing value conversion, promoting emission reduction and carbon sequestration, and developing the ecological services industry. Finally, it calls for summarizing successful models and intensifying publicity and promotion efforts.