Organic conversion tea farms can have comparable economic benefits and less environmental impacts than conventional ones—A case study in China

TY - JOUR

T1 - Organic conversion tea farms can have comparable economic benefits and less environmental impacts than conventional ones—A case study in China

AU - Zhen, Huayang

AU - Qiao, Yuhui

AU - Ju, Xuehai

AU - Hashemi, Fatemeh

AU - Knudsen, Marie Trydeman

PY - 2023/6

Y1 - 2023/6

N2 - Lack of experience concerning the organic conversion period and its associated challenges have made it difficult for conventional farmers to convert to organic farming. In this study, using a combined life cycle assessment (LCA) with data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, we investigated farming management strategies, and environmental, economic, and efficiency impacts of organic conversion tea farms (OCTF, N = 15) compared to conventional (CTF, N = 13) and organic (OTF, N = 14) tea farms in Wuyi County, China for a year-round (2019). We found that the OCTF reduced agricultural inputs (environmental impacts) and applied more manual harvesting (increased added value) to pull through the conversion period. According to the LCA results, OCTF showed a similar integrated environmental impact index compared with OTF but significantly (P < 0.05) lower than CTF at both midpoint and endpoint levels. In terms of economic assessment, OTF showed the significantly highest total revenue (18.7 thousand $ ha −1 yr −1) and profit (13.7 thousand $ ha −1 yr −1) (P < 0.05) among the farm types. In contrast, OCTF and CTF did not show significant differences in relation to these economic indicators (P > 0.05). The total cost and cost-profit ratio did not show significant differences among the three farm types. Considering the DEA analysis, there were no significant differences in the technical efficiency of all farm types. However, the eco-efficiency of OCTF and OTF was significantly higher than that of CTF. Therefore, conventional tea farms can survive the conversion period with competitive economic and environmental benefits. In this regard, policies should promote organic tea cultivation and agroecological practices to enhance the sustainable transformation of tea production systems.

AB - Lack of experience concerning the organic conversion period and its associated challenges have made it difficult for conventional farmers to convert to organic farming. In this study, using a combined life cycle assessment (LCA) with data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, we investigated farming management strategies, and environmental, economic, and efficiency impacts of organic conversion tea farms (OCTF, N = 15) compared to conventional (CTF, N = 13) and organic (OTF, N = 14) tea farms in Wuyi County, China for a year-round (2019). We found that the OCTF reduced agricultural inputs (environmental impacts) and applied more manual harvesting (increased added value) to pull through the conversion period. According to the LCA results, OCTF showed a similar integrated environmental impact index compared with OTF but significantly (P < 0.05) lower than CTF at both midpoint and endpoint levels. In terms of economic assessment, OTF showed the significantly highest total revenue (18.7 thousand $ ha −1 yr −1) and profit (13.7 thousand $ ha −1 yr −1) (P < 0.05) among the farm types. In contrast, OCTF and CTF did not show significant differences in relation to these economic indicators (P > 0.05). The total cost and cost-profit ratio did not show significant differences among the three farm types. Considering the DEA analysis, there were no significant differences in the technical efficiency of all farm types. However, the eco-efficiency of OCTF and OTF was significantly higher than that of CTF. Therefore, conventional tea farms can survive the conversion period with competitive economic and environmental benefits. In this regard, policies should promote organic tea cultivation and agroecological practices to enhance the sustainable transformation of tea production systems.

KW - Conversion period

KW - Eco-efficiency

KW - Economic performance

KW - Life cycle assessment

KW - Organic tea

U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162698

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162698

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36914125

SN - 0048-9697

VL - 877

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

M1 - 162698

ER -