This excerpt is taken from " Agrifood system carbon emissions and reduction policy: insights from China and Africa" by Xia Li, Yumei Zhang, Shenggen Fan and Issa Ouedraogo. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng., https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2025609
Amid climate change and food security challenges, transforming agricultural systems in middle- and low-income countries is crucial for carbon neutrality and sustainable development. China and Africa, responsible for 32% of global agricultural emissions, share agricultural similarities despite different development stages. China’s modernization efforts offer valuable insights for Africa, highlighting opportunities for increased Sino-African cooperation. This study, analysing FAO data from 2000 to 2021, compares emission trends, sources, inputs, and mitigation policies in China and Africa. It reveals that Africa’s emissions remained consistently higher than China’s, which grew faster compared to Africa’s 40% increase. Notably, Africa shows regional disparities in emissions, with the highest increases in East and Central Africa (56% and 54%, respectively), while North and South Africa show slower growth. Structurally, China’s emissions have transitioned from production to pre- and post-production stages. Conversely, Africa’s emissions mainly stem from agricultural production (42%) and land-use changes (43%), emphasizing challenges in resource management and reliance on land expansion. The rapid growth of Africa’s pre- and post-production emissions highlights the supply chain’s growing role in emissions, with regional variations, such as livestock and rice cultivation driving emissions in East and West Africa, and land-use changes in Central Africa. China and Africa’s agricultural policies differ significantly. China adopts multi-objective policies promoting green, low carbon development, whereas Africa focuses on short-term yield increases with heavy reliance on fertilizers, conflicting with low-carbon objectives.
1 Emission reduction policies and measures in China’s agrifood system
China’s agricultural emission reduction policies have evolved from an early focus on production efficiency to a comprehensive strategy emphasizing green development, incorporating key elements of agricultural support and subsidy frameworks. By integrating technological innovation with targeted agricultural subsidies, China has effectively promoted low-carbon agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance resource use efficiency.
China’s technological measures in this area include precision agriculture, circular agriculture, biomass energy applications, integrated water-fertilizer management and comprehensive soil-crop system management. Precision agriculture leverages advanced technologies such as remote sensing and the Internet of Things to monitor crop health, optimize pest control and assess soil quality in real time, improving resource efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. Circular agriculture focuses on recycling agricultural byproducts like manure and crop residues, enriching soil organic content and enhancing carbon sequestration capacity. Biomass energy with carbon capture and storage is applied to produce renewable energy while capturing emissions, supporting China’s carbon neutrality goals.
These technological advancements are supported by a robust policy framework that aligns with multi-objective goals. Under the OECD classification of agricultural support policies, China has implemented commodity production support, input use support, entitlement-based support, non-commodity standards support and general service support. Examples include minimum procurement price policies, subsidies for machinery and improved seeds, farmland fertility protection programs and incentives for adopting environmentally friendly practices such as converting farmland to forests and promoting conservation tillage.
Notably, reforms in China’s agricultural subsidy system emphasize green objectives (Table 2). Subsidies for chemical fertilizers, agricultural inputs and seeds have been redirected toward supporting organic fertilizers, energy-efficient machinery and farmland fertility protection. Investments in high-standard farmland construction have enhanced productivity while reducing the reliance on chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, further lowering carbon emissions. Additionally, cold storage and preservation facilities have reduced food loss and waste, contributing to the reduction of supply chain emissions.
China’s strategic initiatives, such as the 14th Five-Year Plan, focus on high-standard farmland construction, seed industry revitalization, and agricultural mechanization, reinforcing the broader goals of food security, farmer income stability and environmental sustainability. These initiatives are complemented by green subsidy systems that incentivize the adoption of technologies to optimize resource use and improve resilience against climate challenges. Collectively, these policies and technologies not only enhance productivity and support the low-carbon transition of the agricultural sector but also align with China’s broader carbon neutrality commitments and global climate goals.
To ensure long-term progress, further optimization of the policy framework is necessary to strengthen synergies between food security, farmer incomes and environmental sustainability, ensuring a balanced approach to agricultural development that meets economic, social and environmental objectives.
2 Emission reduction policies and measures in Africa’s agrifood system
Africa faces unique challenges in addressing climate change, requiring a balanced approach that supports agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. African governments, often with support from international partners, have developed two primary policy categories: agricultural subsidy policies aimed at improving productivity and green ecological policies focused on promoting sustainable farming and ecosystem restoration. These policies are crucial for reducing GHG emissions, enhancing food security and boosting rural incomes across the continent.
In terms of agricultural subsidy policies, 12 sub-Saharan African countries have implemented smart subsidy programs aimed at improving food security, input adoption and producer welfare. Nigeria initiated its program in 1992, followed by Zambia in 2002 and then Malawi in 2005, whose program inspired broader regional adoption. By 2008, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal and Tanzania had implemented similar initiatives, with Burundi following in 2012. Mozambique piloted a program from 2009 to 2011, while Ethiopia’s policy of selling fertilizer below cost is sometimes considered a subsidy. These programs vary, with some offering universal price subsidies and others using vouchers to target specific farmers and food crops, sometimes developing the private sector for input supply. Only three programs acknowledged potential benefits for poor consumers, and only Tanzania’s program focused explicitly on input use efficiency and soil fertility. Recently, Kenya’s national fertilizer subsidy program, introduced in 2022, provided subsidies of up to 72.7% on commercial fertilizer alternatives to mitigate the global fertilizer crisis. Also, China’s cooperation with African countries in agriculture has driven agricultural modernization, including rice variety improvement in Burundi, mechanization loan support in Kenya, and the launch of digital agriculture service platforms, significantly improving agricultural productivity and efficiency. At the same time, through the Global Development Initiative, the Chinese government has aligned with Africa’s development strategies, focusing on fostering endogenous growth in Africa, particularly in agricultural technology cooperation and agricultural trade facilitation, to ensure food security in Africa.
African nations have also implemented green ecological policies that address both climate adaptation and emission reduction (Table 3). Many African countries have been actively participating in international climate agreements, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. For example, South Africa has introduced a low emission development strategy and enacted a carbon tax law to curb domestic emissions. Also, African countries are making strides in green energy transitions, as exemplified by South Africa’s biogas power generation initiative, which uses chicken manure as a renewable energy source. To address soil degradation and productivity issues, many African countries have adopted integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices, which help to improve soil quality and increase crop yields. Education and training programs are also widely implemented to raise farmer awareness of sustainable agricultural practices, encouraging the adoption of efficient and environmentally friendly pesticide strategies. Additionally, innovative agricultural insurance mechanisms, such as picture-based and weather index insurance, provide African farmers with financial resilience against extreme weather events, reducing the economic risks associated with climate change.
Overall, African countries lag in environmental protection and climate action despite unified support for the Paris Agreement. Effective climate policies require not just financial and technical resources but strong governance, targeting corruption and clear communication of goals. South Africa demonstrates progress, with significant civil society involvement, yet it faces challenges in transitioning from coal to renewables. Without proper governance, increased climate funding might worsen environmental outcomes. To support African climate efforts, international goals should align with African priorities in infrastructure, energy and economic growth, addressing long-standing land and resource issues. Africa’s agricultural emission reduction policies combine objectives of enhancing agricultural productivity and environmental protection, particularly through financial incentives to improve production efficiency while actively promoting ecological restoration and sustainable development policies. This system reflects Africa’s multilevel efforts to address climate change, improve food security, and achieve sustainable agricultural development.
3 Comparative analysis of emission reduction policies in agrifood systems in China and Africa
Under the dual pressures of food security and climate change, China and Africa have significant differences in their agrifood system emission reduction policies, while also offering opportunities for mutual learning. China’s policies emphasize a combination of technology-driven solutions and integrated management to reduce GHG emissions during production. Key approaches include precision agriculture, circular agriculture and biomass energy applications. Precision agriculture uses technologies such as remote sensing and the Internet of Things to optimize fertilizer application and pest control, enhancing resource use efficiency and reducing emissions. Circular agriculture focuses on recycling agricultural byproducts, such as crop residues and livestock manure, to enrich soil organic content and boost carbon sequestration capacity.
Policy support is a critical element in China’s approach, with green subsidy programs such as organic fertilizer subsidies and mechanization incentives encouraging the adoption of lowcarbon technologies by farmers. Also, agricultural insurance and the development of cold storage facilities are integrated into emission reduction frameworks to minimize carbon emissions associated with food loss and waste. Overall, China’s policies are characterized by a systematic integration of technological innovation and policy guidance, balancing agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability.
In contrast, Africa’s emission reduction policies prioritize balancing agricultural productivity and climate adaptation, often leveraging international cooperation to drive green transitions in resource-constrained settings. Agricultural subsidy programs, such as input subsidy programs, reduce input costs and improve food productivity but show limited environmental benefits. Green ecological policies play a more prominent role, with South Africa implementing carbon taxation and low-emission development strategies while promoting biomass energy initiatives such as biogas production from chicken manure to reduce fossil fuel reliance. Additionally, many African nations adopt ISFM practices and innovative agricultural insurance mechanisms, such as weather index insurance, to improve soil quality and enhance resilience against climate-related risks. While these measures have shown success in climate adaptation, their effectiveness in emission reduction is constrained by limited technological adoption and inconsistent policy implementation.
In summary, China’s emission reduction policies are cantered on technological innovation and robust policy frameworks, reflecting systematic and efficient implementation. Africa, conversely, relies more heavily on international cooperation and region-specific strategies to address the dual goals of agricultural production and climate adaptation. The differences in their approaches highlight the influence of varying developmental stages and resource endowments on policy design. Moving forward, China’s experience in low-carbon technologies and Africa’s strategies for ecological adaptation can serve as complementary pathways, offering diverse solutions for global agricultural emission reduction and sustainable development.
4 policy implications
First, local adaptation of technological innovation is key to sustainable agriculture. The high efficiency and lower carbon intensity achieved in China’s agrifood systems underscore the value of adopting innovative technologies, such as precision and circular agriculture, in sustainable development. Developing countries can integrate technologies and waterfertilizer systems to enhance productivity and sustainability. It is essential, however, to adapt these technologies to local conditions, prioritizing cost-effective solutions like low-cost irrigation systems for resource-limited areas. Circular agriculture, which repurposes agricultural waste to enhance soil health and sequester carbon, also offers a viable pathway for developing countries to transition toward low-carbon agriculture.
Second, improving energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy use reduces agricultural emissions. China’s progress in reducing agricultural emissions demonstrates the impact of improving energy efficiency and using biomass energy. To minimize fossil fuel reliance, developing countries should prioritize accessible, low-carbon options, such as energyefficient agricultural machinery, and locally adapted biomass energy sources from crop residues and livestock manure. This approach supports emission reductions while also enhancing energy resilience, particularly in regions with limited infrastructure.
Third, policy support and international cooperation are essential for low-carbon agriculture. China’s emission reductions are largely attributed to strong policy support, including subsidies for organic fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and crop insurance. Developing countries could implement similar incentives to promote low-carbon agricultural practices. Also, international cooperation is crucial for accelerating sustainable transitions, particularly through technical training, joint research, and regional cooperation focused on both mitigation and climate adaptation. Enhanced global collaboration enables resource-sharing, knowledge access, and resilience-building, ultimately supporting sustainable agriculture and contributing to global emissions reduction goals.
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