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Analyzing the effect of circular-agriculture (CA) measures could be helpful to promote its scientific development. Previous research has focused on technological measures and their effects on the agricultural sector. However, economic measures can also promote the development of CA, and due to their correlation with socio-economic sectors, CA measures can impose effects on non-agricultural sectors and on the whole socioeconomic system. In this research, a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model was established to comprehensively reveal the effects of CA measures. In this model, measure simulation and environmental blocks were extended. The production tax was adopted as the economic measure for adjusting the development of CA. Both environmental and socioeconomic effects have been explored. Hebei Province in China was adopted as the study case. Three kinds of production tax adjustment scenarios were considered: a promotion-measure scenario (decreasing the production tax for CA sectors), an inhibition-measure scenario (increasing the production tax for traditional-agriculture sectors), and a hybrid-measure scenario (implementing the promotion- and inhibition-measures simultaneously). The results showed that all three scenarios could promote the development of CA. The inhibition and hybrid measures had positive effects on GDP, and all the scenarios could decrease the intensities of CO2, COD and NH3–N emissions and water resource consumption. In addition, higher measure intensity could bring more significant effects. • Economic measures can promote the development of circular agriculture (CA). • CA economic measure can improve the cleanliness of economic development. • Higher measure intensity can bring more significant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing the effect of circular-agriculture (CA) measures could be helpful to promote its scientific development. Previous research has focused on technological measures and their effects on the agricultural sector. However, economic measures can also promote the development of CA, and due to their correlation with socio-economic sectors, CA measures can impose effects on non-agricultural sectors and on the whole socioeconomic system. In this research, a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model was established to comprehensively reveal the effects of CA measures. In this model, measure simulation and environmental blocks were extended. The production tax was adopted as the economic measure for adjusting the development of CA. Both environmental and socioeconomic effects have been explored. Hebei Province in China was adopted as the study case. Three kinds of production tax adjustment scenarios were considered: a promotion-measure scenario (decreasing the production tax for CA sectors), an inhibition-measure scenario (increasing the production tax for traditional-agriculture sectors), and a hybrid-measure scenario (implementing the promotion- and inhibition-measures simultaneously). The results showed that all three scenarios could promote the development of CA. The inhibition and hybrid measures had positive effects on GDP, and all the scenarios could decrease the intensities of CO2, COD and NH3–N emissions and water resource consumption. In addition, higher measure intensity could bring more significant effects. • Economic measures can promote the development of circular agriculture (CA). • CA economic measure can improve the cleanliness of economic development. • Higher measure intensity can bring more significant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategies based on virtual water have become a controversial measure to alleviate pressure on the water resource in regions with scarce water. Advocates of this approach highlight its potentially low cost and high efficiency, whereas opponents criticize its over-simplification and neglect of important factors other than water. Detailed analysis of the strategy's effects on water use and socioeconomic development is essential to fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of the strategy, and to support its reasonable and scientific implementation. In the present study, we defined three virtual water strategy scenarios (i.e., reduce agricultural production, increase agricultural imports, and reduce production and increase imports simultaneously) and developed a computable general equilibrium model to simulate the effects of the scenarios. We chose China's Bohai Bay area, a rapidly developing region with scarce water, for a case study. We found that the virtual water strategy was a double-edged sword: it improved water conservation (water use decreased by 3.6%, 6.9%, and 3.2% under the three scenarios, respectively), but had negative effects on economic development, employment, and economic welfare. The scenario that only increased agricultural imports had the greatest negative impact on socioeconomic development, whereas the scenario that simultaneously decreased production and increased imports most effectively balanced the economic development and water conservation requirements. • The virtual water strategy (VWS) exerts negative effects on economic systems. • VWS produces tradeoffs between water conservation and economic development. • The dual-policy strategy could achieve a better tradeoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]