Some Unorthodox Thoughts: What Western Agriculture Should Learn from Chinese Agriculture

Starting from the experience of research carried out in Hubei, subtropical intensive agricultural area of China, I focus on some aspects that make this agricultural and cultural system different and peculiar from Western countries. Reducing the length of food-webs supporting human population, integrating aquatic and terrestrial production systems; having had insects such as silkworm and plants such as soybeans as key factors in the production of proteins and fiber. Herbivory of fishes and adoption of husbandry made by small animals coupled with a very limited use of ruminants such as cow and buffalo are among the many strategies developed by the Chinese culture and their peculiar history. Many of these strategies that have permitted supporting an immense population can be better considered by Western countries.