TITLE:
Engineering agro-food development: The cluster model in China
AUTHORS:
M. Yu, J. Calzadilla, J. L. Lopez, A. Villa
KEYWORDS:
Agriculture; Development; Clusters; China
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.4 No.9B,
November
6,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The concept of
industrial clusters has been around for some time. For many national and
regional authorities, particularly in the United States and Europe, cluster
development policies became the core for the new development paradigm based on
the agglomeration economy. The potential of clusters for the development of a
new model for the agro-food industry was recognized at an early stage. Both the United States and Europehave developed a strong base of agro-food
clusters. Also in developing countries, where agriculture is the main
economical source, a strong ally to change their economy has been found in
clusters.Latin Americahas many good examples
of agro-based clusters. The Asian region is now starting to include the
agro-foodclusters into the mainstream of
changes inagriculture, farming and food industry. The case in China is very
relevant, as the potential it holds for agro-food development is enormous. In
this communication, the state of agro-based clusters inChinais
described together with two examples of clusters, one specialized in vegetables
and other in flowers.