SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Currently, the world is facing challenges of maintaining food production growth while improving agricultural ecological environmental quality. The prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution, a key component of these challenges, is a systematic program which integrates many factors such as technology and its extension, relevant regulation and policies. In the project of UK-China Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of the prevention and control technology, technology extension systems and related policy measures of agricultural non-point source pollution in UK. We then proposed the promotion of prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution in China. Considering the current agricultural resources and environment countermeasures of “one control”(control over the total quantity of the agricultural water and agricultural water environment pollution), “two reduction”(reduction in quantities of fertilizers and pesticides), and “three basic countermeasures”(resource utilization, recycling, and mitigate harm from treatment of livestock and poultry wastes, agricultural plastic films and crop straws), we suggested that in the near future source control and process prevention should be technical priorities. Optimization and reduction of chemical fertilizer, combined use of chemical and organic fertilizers, land utilization management, agricultural sector adjustment and integration of crop production with animal husbandry should be the key technologies. The role of non-governmental technical service should be promoted. Government subsidies, ecological compensations and other forms of economic means could be used to encourage famers actively participate in the prevention and control of nitrogen and phosphorus losses and pollution in soil and water systems. Related technical documents and regulations should be more specific, clear, and practical. Collection, transmission and analysis of non-point source pollution data relying on modern information approaches should also be incorporated in the non-point source control projects. The prevention and control of non-point source pollution from agriculture should be integrated into the overall national economic and social development planning, and be unified with the industry optimization and economic development indicators to improve the quality of ecological civilization construction, aiming at the sustainable economic and social development in China.