ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we review the evolution of state support for Chinese ecological agriculture and the emergence of three food quality standards: green food, hazard-free food, and organic agriculture. We also identify three types of ownership structure of organic farms: the contract farming model, private company land leasing model, and farmers’ professional cooperatives (FPCs). Given the strong state intervention, these business ventures tend to reflect what we call “top-down initiatives” in ecological and organic agriculture development. In these initiatives, producers and consumers are distanced such that the formation of trust between them becomes is hampered.
