我国农业与农村可持续发展的制度创新

我国农业与农村可持续发展的核心问题是农民收入问题。只有切实提高农民的收入水平。才能有效地增加农民购买力，从而增加农业生产资料的投入。进而保证粮食增产。我国农业与农村可持续发展存在的两个矛盾是小农经济与市场经济社会化的矛盾以及小农经济与科技化之间的矛盾。面临的两个分离是家庭经济与集体经济的分离以及传统供销合作社与农民利益的分离。增加农民收入的规模经济论与乡镇企业论的确有成功的典范．但是。对我国更多的农村地区来讲．不具有普遍意义。我国农业和农村可持续发展的关键有两个．一是符合区域特色的区域农业专业化．二是通过专业合作社的制度创新．将分散的家庭组织起来．以解决家庭小生产与大市场之间的巨大矛盾。     

川江流域的土壤退化与防治

川江流域地区土壤退化按肥力因素分类，并以专家系统确定的指标分类统计表明：土壤物理性退化中以水分不调、过砂和板结化较严重；土壤结构性退化中，以土层浅薄化较显著；土壤营养性退化中，以缺硼、钼、磷较突出，成因主要是生态脆弱、土壤侵蚀作用和过渡开发利用，据此提出了防治退化的基本措施。并从持续发展角度提出了适应该区土壤退化特点的持续农业系统。     

三峡库区大农业的自然环境现状与预警分析

根据系统序化的观点，分析了库区大农业主要环境因子的具有代表性指标的数量和警式线，并进行了对比，发现它们都处地逆向演替或退化之中。这对三峡水库和库区大农业均十分有害。说明库区大农业的环境恶劣或恶化，应处于警式状态之中。其主要原因是长期向自然过度索取，以牺牲环境为代价，发展人口和物质的生产。建议进一步研究大农业及其环境的调控；把对环境的逐步补救和防止新的破坏结合起来，开展新的生态建设工程。     

可持续农业和农村发展试验区的实践──以湖南省娄底地区为例

湖南省娄底地区是我国可持续农业和农村发展（SARD）试验示范区之一，六年来的研究与实践缓解了经济社会发展与资源环境之间的矛盾，使该地区初步走上了农业与农村可持续发展的道路。     

长江沿江地区跨世纪农业持续发展战略

分析了长江沿江地区农业自然资源优势，农业在全国的战略地位，指出农业持续发展面临的挑战，并结合区域农业持续发展的前景，提出了农业持续发展的宏观战略。     

关于中国农村剩余劳动力数量的估计

本文结合中国农业生产实际，运用农业技术需求法估算了相关年份第一产业劳动力投入量，在此基础上结合第5次人口普查和第一次农业普查资料，估算了中国农村劳动力二、三产业就业量及剩余劳动力数量，并据此提出了相关政策建议。     

农业开发与农业生态环境的保护和建设

本文分析了农业开发中存在的四个主要环境生态问题,及其对农业生产的严重制约,提出了当前农业综合开发过程中生态环境治理、保护和建设的6项基本对策。     

Agroecology in the tropics: Achieving a balance between land use and preservation

Agroecology is the application of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agricultural systems. An agroecological approach to agriculture has special importance in the humid tropics where agricultural development and the preservation of tropical forests are most often in direct conflict. It is proposed that a more sustainable approach to development is needed, where agroecosystems depend on low external inputs, function more on the use of locally available and renewable resources, have benign impacts on the environment, and are based on the knowledge and culture of the local inhabitants. Examples of traditional agroecosystem management in Mesoamerica that can provide this basis are presented. The preservation of both biological and cultural diversity are integral to the long-term sustainable management of natural resources in the tropics.     

Ethical issues concerning potential global climate change on food production

Burning fossil fuel in the North American continent contributes more to the CO₂ global warming problem than in any other continent. The resulting climate changes are expected to alter food production. The overall changes in temperature, moisture, carbon dioxide, insect pests, plant pathogens, and weeds associated with global warming are projected to reduce food production in North America. However, in Africa, the projected slight rise in rainfall is encouraging, especially since Africa already suffers from severe shortages of rainfall. For all regions, a reduction in fossil fuel burning is vital. Adoption of sound ecological resource management, especially soil and water conservation and the prevention of deforestation, is important. Together, these steps will benefit agriculture, the environment, farmers, and society as a whole.     

Process hazards review applied to the use of anhydrous ammonia in agriculture: an example of chemical process safety for small business

Process hazards review (PHR) techniques have generally been applied by large, sophisticated companies in the nuclear, aerospace, and chemical process industries. There remains, however, a large population of smaller distributors and consumers of hazardous materials which could benefit equally from the application of PHR. These consumers unfortunately are generally less sophisticated and individually lack the necessary resources required to apply such state-of-the-art safety techniques.

Where common processes can be identified, it is possible to conduct a more generic PHR that will provide a sound technical basis for recognizing and preventing the development of hazards wherever these processes are used. Some facility-specific issues will always need to be considered, but the existence of the generic PHR should make the conduct of a PHR by each facility considerably easier and less costly.

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) contracted with DNV Technica Inc. to lead a hazard and operability study (HAZOP) of agricultural handling of anhydrous ammonia, from the receipt of ammonia at the retail distribution centre to the application of the ammonia by farmers to the fields. The multidisciplinary HAZOP team consisted of representatives from NIOSH, an agricultural chemical trade association, an ammonia producer, state ammonia facility inspectors, a retail distributor, and an equipment manufacturer. Several participants were part-time farmers with ammonia application experience.

Some specific aspects of applying the HAZOP technique in the context of this study, the findings obtained, and the plans to disseminate the important safety information developed during the course of the PHR are discussed. Finally, it is suggested that this approach could prove to be a useful addition to the product stewardship activities of chemical producers.