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From Singular to Systemic: The Transformative Trajectory of Zero-Pollution Crop Protection Strategies
1  China Center for Modernization Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Beijing 100190 China
2  School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Beijing 100049 China
Academic Editor: Azucena Gonzalez-Coloma

Abstract:

In the evolution of agricultural development, crop protection has always served as a critical mechanism for ensuring both yield security and product quality, undergoing profound technological paradigm shifts. Traditional pest management systems have long relied on chemical inputs—a technological approach that, while significantly boosting per-unit productivity during specific historical periods, has progressively revealed substantial ecological costs through secondary environmental externalities. Of particular concern is the global public health challenge posed by chemical residues, the bio-amplification effects of which cause acute food safety risks through trophic transfer mechanisms . In this context, zero-pollution crop protection solutions have emerged as a transformative response. These strategies aim to minimize or eliminate chemical usage while adopting ecologically harmonious and sustainable crop safeguarding methodologies. Their influence not only addresses the limitations of conventional technologies but also epitomizes a paradigm shift in agricultural philosophy—from a narrow focus on yield maximization to a holistic integration of ecological stewardship and food safety imperatives. The transition from unitary technological approaches to systemic operational models constitutes the core trajectory of evolving zero-pollution solutions. Grounded in agricultural techno-historical analysis and framed by technological systems theory, this study systematically examines the developmental trajectory of zero-pollution crop protection systems. Methodologically, it employs paradigm analysis based on systems thinking to deconstruct technical–institutional co-evolution. The results reveal the synergistic co-evolutionary mechanisms linking technological advancement, ecological adaptation, and societal transformation within agricultural sustainability transitions. This systemic shift accommodates the inherent complexity and diversity of agricultural production, synthesizing multidisciplinary technologies and strategies to achieve comprehensive, efficient, and sustainable crop protection, reflecting a fundamental reorientation in agricultural paradigms—from a “conquest of nature” ethos to a philosophy of “symbiotic coexistence”.

Keywords: Zero-Pollution Crop Protection; Paradigm Shift; Agricultural Sustainability Transitions

 
 
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