Research Progress on the Development of Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Park

Weizhong LIU*, Zhijuan WANG2, Junpeng REN

1.Zhenjiang Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Hilly Area of Jiangsu Province, Jurong 212400, China; 2.Zhenjiang Wanshan Hongbian Agricultural Park, Jurong 212400, China

Abstract This paper summarizes the typical models, construction theory and development status of modern agricultural science and technology parks at home and abroad, in order to provide a reference for the sustainable development of modern agricultural science and technology parks in China. It is found that at present, the agricultural science and technology park in China is in the stage of quantitative development, neglecting the qualitative construction of the park. This paper points out that the balanced relationship among ecology, economy and society should be adjusted to promote the sustainable development of the park.

Key words Modern agricultural science and technology park, Development status, Research progress

1 Introduction

In the early 19th century, developed countries began to enter an important period of capitalist development. With the great change of industrial production, the traditional agricultural production mode under the planned economy has been abandoned, and the modern agricultural production mode with high level of agricultural science and technology has become the new mainstream. At this time, the mode of agricultural production has undergone a huge change, followed by changes in the demand for agricultural production technology and acquisition mode.

2 Present situation of the development of modern agricultural science and technology parks in foreign countries

In the 1990s, high and new technology developed rapidly. Taking this opportunity, the construction of a large number of modern agricultural high-tech parks has become one of the main ways for developed countries to develop modern agriculture, marking the inevitable trend of the integrated development of economy, science and technology and agriculture. Foreign modern agricultural science and technology park is mainly to show farmers, students and tourists a new model of facility agriculture combining modern science and technology with modern agriculture, and is responsible for industrial incubation. There are three typical models: model farms, holiday farms and agricultural science and technology parks[1].

2.1 Model farmsThe model of model farm is to successfully demonstrate and popularize the new achievements of valuable agricultural science and technology and apply the new agricultural production technology to the experimental base in actual production. This model is popular in Japan and Singapore. For the technology, model,etc., which are applied to the actual agricultural production, research, development, demonstration and dissemination are essential four links, namely "R3D", and demonstration is an important part of it. Investors plan agricultural land in an all-round way in order to continuously invest in infrastructure construction, purchase of agricultural equipment, introduction of high and new technology for research and development, so as to attract high-level professional and technical personnel. The main body of investment has also carried out land improvement, variety improvement and mechanized transformation to form a multi-functional modern agricultural science and technology park. The park includes agricultural science and technology research and development center, agricultural production and processing center, technical achievements display center and production demonstration center based on modern enterprise management. On the basis of investment, the government also provides them with a large number of preferential policies, and makes full use of and integrates all the market information provided by intermediary agencies.

2.2 Holiday farmsIt includes sightseeing agricultural parks, educational farms, forest parks,etc. with agricultural tourism, agricultural leisure as the theme[2]. This model is popular in Japan, Taiwan, the Netherlands, France and so on. The model park relies on agricultural resources, combined with traditional culture, with the help of tourism functions, to carry out innovative planning and design, and form a multi-functional park integrating research and development, innovation, display, recreation, leisure and education. Based on the existing production sites, infrastructure, agricultural products, combined with natural scenery, traditional culture and other elements, farm operators create unique characteristic farms. Japan’s "sky vegetable garden", "pumpkin forest park", the Netherlands’ Keukenhof flower park and so on adopt this form[1]. The focus of educational farms is popular science education, popular science knowledge publicity, science and technology knowledge publicity, and student farms are representative of Japanese educational farms[3].

2.3 Agricultural science and technology parkIn recent years, a new park model-agricultural science and technology park has been built in developed countries or regions. This park model is mainly invested and undertaken by government departments, scientific research institutions and colleges and universities. It has the functions of high and new agricultural technology display, popularization, demonstration and incubation of scientific research achievements, represented by the agricultural science and technology park hosted by Cornell University and New York Agricultural Experimental Station.

The construction of the above several modern agricultural science and technology parks is influenced by national conditions, economic level, cultural system and other factors. This is mainly reflected in the differences in the type and development stage of the park under the same country, and such differences are transformed into the characteristics of the park[4]. However, there are similarities. Due to the long construction cycle of the park and the large investment of funds, most of the government investment tends to the whole process of R & D, demonstration and promotion, but there are also differences in supporting policies among governments. In the whole process, intermediary agencies have played an important coordinating role. At the same time, governments also provide financial support to the development of modern agricultural science and technology park and provide tax, financial, legal policy support through credit concessions, financing and other financial tools to create a good entrepreneurial and cultural atmosphere. At the same time, some of the parks in foreign modern agricultural science and technology parks are subordinate enterprises of scientific research institutes and universities. And scientific research institutes and universities provide advanced scientific research technology and high-quality talents for the construction of modern agricultural science and technology park. Sound transformation mechanism, developed agricultural mechanization, agricultural informationization, networking, agricultural biotechnology level has also provided technical support for its development.

3 Present situation of the development of modern agricultural science and technology park in China

Agriculture is the foundation of a strong country. From ancient times to the present, China has been in the ranks of large agricultural countries, but in recent years, the level of agricultural development in China lags behind that of developed countries. The inflexibility and inefficiency of the agricultural management model of original intensive farming gradually appear, far from being able to adapt to the fierce competition market. At the end of last century, under the impact of high-tech agricultural technology in Western developed countries, the traditional agricultural mode in China changed, and gradually formed a modern agricultural science and technology park integrating high quality resources, advanced technology, professional team and accurate service. Since then, it has played an important role in changing the mode of agricultural production, promoting the transformation of agricultural scientific and technological achievements, and improving the level of agricultural science and technology. TheOutlineofChina’s13thFive-YearPlanstates that we will optimize the agricultural industrial structure, ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products, and realize the sustainable development of agriculture. Document No.1 of the Central Committee in 2017 stressed once again that we should continue to promote the green mode of production in agriculture and complete the sustainable development of agriculture[5]. The nature of contemporary agriculture is no longer limited to solving the problem of food and clothing, but has become an important part of balancing social relations, maintaining social order and realizing Chinese Dream. With the construction of more and more modern agricultural science and technology parks, many domestic scholars have studied the construction of modern agricultural science and technology parks which are suitable for the situation of our country.

3.1 Theoretical researchXu Yuexianetal. have carried out a lot of useful theoretical research work, mainly in the development pole theory, agricultural location theory, system engineering theory, technological innovation theory, venture capital theory and industrial cluster theory and so on[4].

3.2 FeaturesThere are many views of domestic scholars. Chen Fu believes that the park has obvious regional characteristics, strong ability of scientific and technological innovation, and intensive technology and capital, and it absorbs, organizes and guides farmers in the region to produce and drive the development of agricultural economy around and in the region[5]. Jiang Heping believes that the agricultural science and technology park basically meets the requirements of science and technology, production and market, perfect production and service system; involving biochemical engineering, agricultural engineering and other disciplines, it is a modern agricultural park featuring business-oriented management, large-scale management and production standardization.

3.3 ClassificationJiang Heping believes that the type of agricultural science and technology park is based on the classification criteria. According to the differences of the main body of management, the way of establishing the project, the content of demonstration and the content of ecological category, the agricultural science and technology parks can be roughly divided into a total of 20 types, including the state-level agricultural high-tech development zones represented by Yangling, Shaanxi Province, industrial and efficient agricultural demonstration zones represented by "Beijing Shunyi Sangao" Park, sustainable and efficient agricultural demonstration zone represented by Heilongjiang Mudanjiang Park, hilly and mountainous park, parks set up by the government, non-governmental organizations and "scientific research institutions+localities", facility horticulture, water-saving and ecological agriculture and so on[6]. Wu Yarong believes that according to the differences in technical types, it can be divided into ecological category, characteristic category, tourism category and facility and equipment category.

3.4 Functional determinationXu Yuexian and Yang Qichang believe that agricultural science and technology parks are not merely the transition from traditional agriculture to modern agriculture, and it also gathers the functions of leading and demonstration, driving, experimental demonstration, scientific and technological popularization, achievement incubation, training guidance, fine (deep) processing, leisure and sightseeing,etc. Wu Peiliang believes that the park should take into account the functions of public welfare and profitability[7]. Jiang Heping believes that it is the integration of innovative system, innovative mechanism and innovative science and technology[8]. Wu Pute believes that the agricultural science and technology park has the functions of incubating projects or enterprises, and introducing, absorbing and innovating agricultural scientific and technological achievements, diffusion effect driving, information distribution center, technology, talent and information agglomeration, talent training, combining science and technology, education, industrial and commercial enterprises and government departments, foreign exchange and cooperation and profiting[9].

3.5 Operation modeLiang Rong and Peng Jianxiong believe that agricultural science and technology parks can be divided into four types: factory intensification, demonstration and extension projects, scientific research and development, and comprehensive models. Jiang Heping believes that according to the demonstration and driving model, agricultural science and technology park can be divided into four types: "leading enterprise driving", "facility agriculture+enterprise management", "agricultural technology popularization and innovation" and "characteristic agriculture+leading enterprises+professional associations+farmers"[10].

3.6 Establishment of mechanismsChen Shixiong suggests the establishment of seven mechanisms: land circulation, institutional management, capital preparation, technology selection and technology diffusion, market expansion and talent utilization[11].

3.7 Management model and systemLi Xulin and others believe that the state-level park implements a modern enterprise or planned management model, carries out dynamic and hierarchical management according to the actual situation[12], and requires a declaration, evaluation and assessment system. Jiang Heping believes that there are three types dominating agricultural science and technology parks in Beijing: farmers, enterprises and the government[13]. Lu Fengjun believes that the government, enterprises and associations cooperate with each other in the construction of the park. The government serves and regulates economic activities through the park management committee. The enterprise carries out the industrialization system construction through the development of industrial groups, completes the park planning and promotes the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The association is in close contact with the government and enterprises through the Association for the Promotion of Development[14]. Zhu Zhiqi believes that in the development of modern agricultural science and technology parks, we should solve the problems of land circulation, fund raising, talent introduction, technological innovation, organization and management, and establish corresponding mechanisms[15].

4 Discussions

At present, China is still a developing country with a large population, lack of resources, increasing consumption year by year and backward economic development. Based on the actual situation, blindly carrying out great economic development is bound to increase the pressure caused by environmental and resource problems. In the construction of modern agricultural science and technology park, we should coordinate the relationship among various departments, organizations and social groups, effectively solve the contradiction between social and economic development and various elements, and maintain the harmonious coexistence of living environment and natural ecological environment. However, the change of modern agricultural science and technology park in China is only a change in quantity and scale, neglecting the quality of park construction, and there are many problems including the lack of construction funds, similar development forms and unobvious brand advantages, lack of scientific and technological innovation, low quality of scientific and technological service and shortage of talents. At present, the urgent task is to adjust the balanced relationship among ecology, economy and society, and to promote the sustainable development of modern agricultural science and technology parks in China.