China has experienced a boom expansion of non-grain production in recent years. While the non-grain production can increase the economic benefits of farmers, its expansion has significant impacts on the ecological environment and agricultural sustainability. This study attempted to assess the trade-offs between the economic benefits and environmental costs of non-grain production and to provide reference for future land use management. Focusing on the non-grain expansion in Tongxiang City, eastern China, empirical models and field surveys were used to evaluate its environmental impacts and monetary analysis was used to assess the trade-offs between the economic benefits and environmental costs. The results showed that the area of non-grain production increased by 2464.74 ha from 2005 to 2020, and pond fish farming accounted for the largest proportion. The economic benefits and environmental costs of non-grain production increased continuously during 2005-2020, and the net economic-environmental benefits gradually expanded after 2010. Trade-off analysis indicates that the economic benefits of duck rearing did not compensate for the environmental costs, while the other non-grain productions did. Nevertheless, the potential impact of non-grain conversion on the local environment is still underestimated. Some suggestions are proposed to achieve a win-win situation between cultivated land utilization and ecological protection.

Air pollution, owing to the ever-increasing transport vehicle fleet, and adverse health effects are increasing in provinces of Thailand. The study estimated that the vehicle fleet size of Nakhon Ratchasima (NR) province of Thailand will grow to 2 million vehicles by 2030, which was 1.36 million in 2021. In NR, the PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations already surpassed both WHO and NAAQS guidelines in 2019-2021. Using Pollution Control Department (PCD) approved Tier I and II Methodology of EMEP/EEA, this research estimated that the total tailpipe emission load will be 1039 tons of PM2.5, 16,630 tons of NO₂, 20,623 tons of CO, 195 tons NH₃, and 249 tons of SO₂ in NR during 2030. The emission load will increase to 1752 tons of PM2.5, 21,126 tons of NO2, 25,559 tons of CO, 361 tons of NH3 and 9344 tons of SO₂ during 2030 if upstream emissions are considered. This study has developed five control scenarios in line with the directives of PCD to mitigate the adverse health from vehicle-led air pollution in NR and implementation during 2024-2030. According to the study, different control scenarios to be implemented during 2024-2030, will be able to keep the fleet size of vehicles in the NR under control. The results show that the control scenarios will keep the annual tailpipe emission of PM2.5 at 604 tons in 2030, a 42 % reduction over the 2030 Business-As-Usual scenario (BAU). The health damage in the range of 6941 to 11,625 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) under the 2030 BAU scenario in NR due to tailpipe and upstream emissions can be reduced to 4162-7318 DALYs with the implementation of different control scenarios. The control scenarios will also provide significant economic benefits ranging from 4465 to 6718 million THB during 2024-2030 through reduced DALYs and associated costs.

Hyperaccumulator-cash crop intercropping remediation is a research hotspot for heavy metal contaminated farmland, but few studies evaluated its feasibility based on practice. Field experiments and survey statistics were conducted to obtain parameters of Pteris vittata-Citrus reticulata/Zea mays intercropping, and potential of intercropping remediation was evaluated based on remediation efficiency and economic benefits. The results showed that intercropping hyperaccumulator with cash crop (especially herbs) had a certain negative effect on remediation efficiency because of the influence on planting density and harvest times of hyperaccumulator; while trees could partly alleviate this effect. Until achieving the predetermined target, the net remediation cost of P. vittata-Z. mays was 18.2 $/g As, followed by P. vittata monoculture (13.3 $/g) and P. vittata-C. reticulata (8.6 $/g). Based on the proposed evaluation model, nealy half of the P. vittata intercropping modes had low economic benefits, insufficient to compensate the cost of sacrificing remediation efficiency. Based on the data from two soil remediation projects, when net income of cash crops intercropped with As-hyperaccumulators exceeded 5865/1607 $/hm2 (herbs/trees), the economic benefit of intercropping will be relatively obvious. Therefore, cash crops should be considered from three aspects: planting conditions, spatial allocation and economic benefits. Novelty statement: This work analyzed remediation efficiency and economic benefits of intercropping remediation. An economic benefit evaluation model was established to evaluate intercropping remediation modes. The selection principle and net income threshold of cash crops in intercropping was put forward for the first time.[Figure: see text]HighlightsThe selection principle of cash crops in intercropping remediation was put forward.An evaluation model of P. vittata intercropping remediation was established.The net cost of extracting 1.0 g of soil As in each remediation mode was proposed.Net income of herb/tree intercropped with P. vittata should exceed 5865/1607 $/hm2.

The optimisation of land use allocation plays an important role in sustainable land use planning. It is crucial to realise the synergy between economic development and ecosystem conservation by optimising land use allocation. In this study, we developed a method to optimise land use allocation to balance ecosystem services and economic benefits based on the spatial difference of both ecosystem services value (ESV) and land use efficiency, based on the LAND System Cellular Automata model for Potential Effect (LANDSCAPE). In the optimisation model, spatial difference of ESV was represented by the parameter of resistance, while spatial difference of land use efficiency was expressed as the parameter of asynchronous rate of transition. Subsequently, land use allocation was optimised based on spatial difference of resistances and asynchronous rates. Taking Wuhan as the study area, the proposed optimisation model was used to conduct the optimisation of land use allocation during 2010-2020. Results showed that: economic benefits would increase by 444.77 million US$, while losses of ESV would decrease by 142.55 million US$ by optimisation of land use allocation. This indicated that the optimal allocation of land use based on spatial difference of ESV and land use efficiency can increase economic benefits at lower cost of ESV. In conclusion, it is feasible to allocate land resources to balance ecosystem services and economic benefits based on the differences of ESV and land use efficiency. This study highlights that taking the spatial difference of both ESV and land use efficiency into consideration is helpful for a sustainable land use planning.

The disposal of food waste has attracted worldwide attention. Each year, the amount of wasted food accounts for an estimated one third of annual food production globally. This large amount of food waste has caused serious land, water, and air pollution. In the past, most research on food waste was focused solely on food waste disposal processing. Only a few studies analysed the flow of materials in food waste treatment processes. Therefore, this paper focused on the process of food waste anaerobic treatment in Beijing and investigated the treatment. According to a life cycle theory, the food waste treatment process is divided into three processes: \"collection and transportation, disposal, and resource utilization.\" This paper analysed the input and output of food waste treatment in different processes and evaluated the economic and environmental costs and benefits of food waste treatment. The study found that 200 t of food waste anaerobic treatment can obtain benefits 66,888 Chinese yuan, generate electricity energy 43,350 kW⋅h, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions 16,087 kg. Generally, the economic and environmental benefits of the food waste anaerobic treatment project are considerable. However, the economic benefits are mainly from government subsidies. There are many impurities in food waste, which indicates some problems in food waste treatment. Thus, the proposals to strengthen waste classification, optimize the layout of garbage collection and transportation, and accelerate the development of waste treatment plants have been put forward.

Hypertension significantly contributes to the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, thus leading to rising healthcare costs. The objective of this study was to quantify the clinical and economic benefits of optimal systolic blood pressure (SBP), in a setting under severe financial constraints, as in the case of Greece. Hence, a Markov model projecting 10-year outcomes and costs was adopted, in order to compare two scenarios. The first one depicted the \"current setting\", where all hypertensives in Greece presented an average SBP of 164 mmHg, while the second scenario namely \"optimal SBP control\" represented a hypothesis in which the whole population of hypertensives would achieve optimal SBP (i.e. <140 mmHg). Cardiovascular events\' occurrence was estimated for four sub-models (according to gender and smoking status). Costs were calculated from the Greek healthcare system\'s perspective (discounted at a 3% annual rate). Findings showed that compared to the \"current setting\", universal \"optimal SBP control\" could, within a 10-year period, reduce the occurrence of non-fatal events and deaths, by 80 and 61 cases/1000 male smokers; 59 and 37 cases/1000 men non-smokers; whereas the respective figures for women were 69 and 57 cases/1000 women smokers; and accordingly, 52 and 28 cases/1000 women non-smokers. Considering health expenditures, they could be reduced by approximately €83 million per year. Therefore, prevention of cardiovascular events through BP control could result in reduced morbidity, thereby in substantial cost savings. Based on clinical and economic outcomes, interventions that promote BP control should be a health policy priority.