Globalizaton has brought many changes to agriculture, most of which have been well documented. Clearly, efficiencies have been gained as the countries that are best suited for producing certain crops or products are now producing for global markets rather than just themselves or their neighbors. Improvements are shared across borders, with technology and best practices becoming worldwide concerns, rather than something every country must discover for itself.
But on top of these, I believe this issue illustrates a way in which globalization has another benefit: all the things that may have slid by unnoticed in the past – things like black market products, regulatory violations, corruption, and the like – may be able to persist in isolated markets, but they don’t escape the global microscope. Governments and industry leaders around the world have taken notice, and have made many strides in cleaning up their industries.
全球竞争发挥重要作用 在刺激这些变化时，因为当全世界都在注视时，你想要看起来不错。生产商、农户，以及农业供应链上的每一个人，都站在一个更大的舞台上。以错误的方式做事变得越来越困难，因为在全球市场中，您不能简单地躲在阴影中并期望您的不当行为不被发现。您的竞争对手和您的目标市场可能远在千里之外，而他们正在向内张望。
In this issue’s Country Report on China beginning on p. 8, one of the major topics discussed was the government effort to improve the country’s manufacturing industry. Gone are the easily attained export licenses and the provincial governance of some regulations. Gone are several organophosphate products, replaced by less toxic alternatives.
随之而来的是环境问题 – water management requirements and other health and environmental regulations are being enforced. As many manufacturers told us in Shanghai at the China Agro Chem (CAC) show, this could instantly drive consolidation in the industry, and make it more difficult for the smaller plants and traders to survive.
However, it will also drive improvements throughout the industry. China perhaps more than any other country has a lot to gain by growing its reputation internationally. With many foreign partners and export markets, trust has been a sticky issue at times in the past (not that it has slowed China’s growth). But by removing those doubts in the eyes of overseas buyers and demonstrating its commitment to a cleaner, more environmentally sound, and more trustworthy industry, China is eliminating any doubts that may still linger with potential importers of the country’s products.
China is not alone in its dedication to such improvements. The article on Annex I changes (p. 36) shows the recent re-registration decisions made in the EU, probably the world’s most progressive environmental activist nations. But the EU’s recent actions show that even as environmentally forward-thinking those country’s are, there still is room for improvement.
Which leads me to another piece, and one which I am more personally connected to – the Environmental Respect Awards (ERA), beginning on p. 30.
每年，ERA 计划都会表彰公司 that set good examples in environmental and product stewardship, safe use, and professionalism. Every year it gives us a chance to meet and learn about some of the most impressive and ethical dealers and distributors in the world. And as these companies show us each year, improvements and environmental issues are not just the “big-picture” domain of governments. They’re things that happen on the ground, in our daily lives. And we are proud to honor the companies that prove that point.