Empirical analysis of experts' perspectives on the Multifunctionality of Agriculture in China and Finland

The expectations on Multifunctionality of Agriculture (MFA) in China and Finland are compared through cross-table and factor analysis methods based upon surveys with 62 Chinese and Finnish experts. The results indicate that two of the elements have no significant difference, and the other four elements exhibit statistically significant differences. Further, we can infer that MFA in China is mainly stressed due to economic function, in Finland due to its social and economic function, and a reflection of deep ecology theory and modern ecological ethics. It implies that the concept of MFA is given a somewhat different content in China and Finland.

Keywords: MFA, multifunctionality of agriculture, agricultural multifunctionality, cross-table analysis, factor analysis, Finland, China, ecology theory, ecological ethics