Abstract:

In response to the global challenges of ecological degradation, resource constraints and rising quality demands in agriculture, alongside the inherent limitations of organic farming, this paper proposes a new agricultural development paradigm termed ‘nature-nurturing agriculture (NNA)’. This advanced model prioritized the cultivation of ecological carriers, including soils, biotic communities and material cycling, and leveraged “Biomass Mining” as core resources. Building on the prohibition of synthetic inputs that characterized organic farming, this approach aimed to achieve increased yields of high-quality produce, enhanced health of ecological carriers and greater efficacy of ecological assets. This study combined theoretical analysis and case study research. First, it reviewed and discussed the connections and distinctions between existing sustainable agricultural models and NNA, and then constructed an analytical framework for NNA by integrating ecological holism, circular economy theory, and ecological asset theory. Second, three representative case studies from the kingdoms Plantae, Animalia, and Fungi were examined. Through systematic compilation of ecological indicators, the mechanisms related to resource cycling, resilience enhancement, and ecological asset appreciation facilitated by NNA were analyzed, and the viability of the sequential 'Nurture-Produce-Appreciate' framework was assessed. The study found that: (1) In the plant-domain case, through measures, such as the application of bio-organic fertilizers, the return of green manure to the field, and the construction of ecological water bodies and buffer zones, more than two years of nurturing significantly increased soil organic matter content, markedly increased earthworm density in vegetable fields, substantially reduced the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, significantly decreased the incidence of major soil-borne diseases, and generated a certain level of carbon-sequestration benefits and additional agro-tourism income; (2) In the animal-domain case, following ecological pond transformation and more than two years of nurturing, biodiversity in aquaculture water bodies was significantly restored, the food chain in fish ponds became more complete; with the support of Chinese herbal medicine, fungal enzyme preparations, and insect-protein substitution technologies, the year-round elimination of antibiotics and conventional fishery drugs was achieved, while both the yield and quality of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) improved and additional income from by-catch and aquatic plants increased; (3) In the fungal-domain case, rice-straw cultivation of Stropharia rugosoannulata was carried out during the fallow period, and frass of black soldier fly larvae was applied to promote straw decomposition and soil cultivation, thereby achieving the high-value utilization of straw, enhanced soil carbon sequestration, improved fungal community diversity, and the secondary nurturing of fungal residues returned to the field, reflecting the coupling of production processes with ecological nurturing. NNA was defined as an agricultural development pathway that, building upon organic farming, further emphasizes the cultivation of ecological carriers, intra-system cycling, and the appreciation of ecological assets. Its essence lies in the support of stable production and the realization of multiple values through ecological health. Future research should be directed toward region-specific adaptation, the construction of technical frameworks, long-term field monitoring, ecological asset accounting, and standard certification, so as to advance NNA from conceptual exploration toward standardized application.

Key words: agricultural modernization, food production system, resource regeneration, ecological resilience, organic farming, biomass mining, nature-nurturing