Industry convergence as a strategy for achieving sustainable development of agricultural complex: The case of Sandun‐Lanli in China
通过中国三墩-兰里的纵向案例研究，揭示了产业融合策略如何帮助农业综合体实现环境可持续、农民增收和就业扩大，对农业企业和政府有重要启示。
Abstract The purpose of the paper is to conceptualize and provide empirical evidence for the adoption of industry convergence strategy to sustainably develop the agricultural complex (AC) as a form of multifunctional agriculture in the Chinese context, which aims to achieve environmental sustainability in agricultural production and promotion of farmers' income and employment opportunities. A longitudinal single‐case study method was adopted. Thirty‐six face‐to‐face interviews were carried out with key respondents from various levels and types of government agencies, the Wu‐Sheng Company, and village collectives; participative observations were conducted during the fieldwork between 2016 and 2019. We found sustainability is embedded in and achieved through the industry convergence strategies of AC in the rural area of China. We are the first to formally define AC, propose the four‐stage industry convergence strategies of Wu‐Sheng in the process of developing the AC, and build connection between the AC and sustainable development. The case provides important, rich insights into the AC, industry convergence, and agricultural land use policy and therefore has enormous implications for agricultural companies as well as governments.