‘PPM-Nutrients’ Project Policy and Practice for Management of Nutrients Knowledge, policy and practice for sustainable nutrient management and water resources protection in UK and Chinese agro-ecosystems (Feb 2013 to Jan 2016) Introduction to the project and proposed research Beijing, 25 th February 2014 Professor Laurence Smith, SOAS, University of London

PPM-Nutrients: 7 objectives and activities 1.Development and application of a nutrient ‘footprint’ framework to quantify the stocks and fluxes of nutrients within key agro-ecosystems in China and the UK. 2.Assessment of known and developing mitigation practices with the potential to optimise nutrient use within the agro-ecosystems studied, and to minimise export of nutrients from the agro-ecosystems to connected ecosystems. 3.A review of existing policy across the UK, EU and China, and suggestions regarding opportunities for new or revised policies, that respond to imbalances in the nutrient footprints identified under 1., and significant nutrient export pathways and mitigation opportunities identified under 2. 4.An analysis of the existing evidence base related to nutrient ‘footprints’ and the effectiveness of current policy and practice, and identification of future evidence requirements to support more sustainable nutrient management.

5.An assessment in the UK and in China of current means and implementation arrangements for delivering more sustainable nutrient management and water resource protection in agro- ecosystems, and of constraints to this. A focus in particular on assessment of the effectiveness of farm extension services. 6.Critical evaluation of the value of, and potential for, broad stakeholder engagement, and of the capacity of local organisations and agencies to develop and implement management strategies for improved nutrient management and water resources protection. 7.To make use of existing networking tools to facilitate communication and knowledge exchange between partners. Two conceptual views/frameworks for the project follow.

3 agro-ecosystems: nutrient footprints Review and analysis of policy Assessment of agricultural extension systems/information resources for farmers Stakeholder mapping and engagement Communication and knowledge exchange Assessment of mitigation measures and BMPS Review of evidence base Integrated synthesis and conclusions

Build and Maintain Partnerships Engage Stakeholders Characterize nutrient footprint (and catchment?) Identify ways to improve Set Goals Prioritize Solutions Design and Planning Implement Plan Monitor Progress Make Adjustments Improve Plan Key Pathways Evaluation Deliberation Science

3 case study agro-ecosystems and lead partners Rice system in South China (near Suzhou) - AEPI Maize-wheat system in North China - CAU Intensive horticulture: vegetables and fruit in Northwest China – Northwest A&F University

PPM Nutrients: workshops and visits Project inception workshop - June 2013, Tianjin – Finalised the project’s objectives and selection of case study systems and locations Field visits, October 2013 – Familiarity with case studies, stakeholder and issue identification Young researcher visit to UK, November 2013 – Exposure to UK situation and research Research exchange workshop, February 2014, Beijing – Discuss and evolve the project agenda with leading researchers Mid- project workshop, UK, (September 2014, tbc) – Evaluate progress Final policy workshop, China, (October 2015, tbc) – put forward results and recommendations.

PPM Nutrients: project outputs 1.A SAIN Policy Brief and a refereed journal paper analysing the utility of the nutrient ‘footprint’ framework, informed and illustrated by applications in key Chinese and UK agro-ecosystems. 2.A proposed strategy (national, regional and local scales) and draft proposals for leading measures (farm and catchment scale) to improve nutrient management and the mitigation of DWPA in key farming systems within China (with suggestions on how to develop resources comparable to those existing and being improved in the UK; for example, the Defra DWPA User Manual Cuttle et al., 2006); and a working paper on the private farm scale and wider welfare economics of DWPA control in China. 3.A SAIN Policy Brief and a refereed journal paper analysing the transferability of policy frameworks employed in the UK and wider EU to China for the promotion of improved nutrient management and protection of water resources; including an analysis of the opportunities and the barriers to implementation in each jurisdiction. 4.A working paper identifying future research, monitoring and mitigation priorities for the UK and China in relation to nutrient management and control of DWPA within a range of key agro- ecosystems. 5.A SAIN Policy Brief and a working paper assessing the current means and implementation arrangements for delivering more sustainable nutrient management and water resource protection in key agro-ecosystems in China and the UK. 6.A SAIN Policy Brief and a refereed journal paper based on the evaluation of case study assessments in China of the utility of, and potential for, locally based processes of stakeholder deliberation and collaborative adaptive management informed by scientific assessment. 7.Knowledge exchange between the UK and Chinese research partners.