Decision–Making Methods and Applications for Sustainable Development of Characteristic Agriculture

Dear Colleagues,

As we enter the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, many of the world’s food systems are fragile and failing to fulfill the right to adequate food for all. It is therefore necessary to develop an agricultural form to align with the requirements of the times. Characteristic agriculture in its various forms was proposed to satisfy the diversified consumer demand and highly subdivided market by considering local conditions.

Characteristic agriculture refers to agriculture with unique varieties, special qualities, and local characteristics, and it is developed for a specific region according to that region’s unique conditions of geography, climate, and resources. Characteristic agriculture is regarded as an advantageous, efficient, and productive brand of agriculture based on utilizing the comparative advantage of regional resources. Developing characteristic agriculture is an effective way to promote agricultural modernization, optimize the rural industrial structure, transfer agricultural surplus labor force and transform the mode of agricultural development. Characteristic agriculture includes characteristic farming, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery, and even sideline production.

As we know, food systems contribute up to one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, up to 80% of biodiversity loss, and use up to 70% of fresh water. As is the aim of transforming our food systems, characteristic agriculture should address our responsibility to conserve natural resources. Therefore, sustainability should be the priority in developing characteristic agriculture. When characteristic agriculture is faced with the dual dilemma of efficient outputs and ecological constraints, making a sustainable development decision becomes an increasingly critical issue.

This Special Issue focuses primarily on the decision-making methods and applications for the sustainable development of characteristic agriculture. We believe that the decision-making methods and applications can scientifically promote and support the sustainable development of characteristic agriculture. For this Special Issue, we are seeking papers on sustainable characteristic agriculture involving influence factors, sustainable solution alternatives, evaluation index systems, evaluation methods, risk identification, optimal allocation of resources, ecological safety, sustainable practice experience, management innovation, and so on. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Yuan-Wei Du
Dr. Man Qin
Dr. Alvaro Labella
Guest Editors

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• characteristic agriculture
• sustainable development
• sustainable agriculture
• decision-making method
• evaluation index
• evaluation method
• ecological safety
• risk management
• comprehensive benefit
• marine fishery
• marine ranching
• plateau agriculture
• food security