Continuing environmental degradation amidst economic growth and population increase has underscored the desirability of pursuing sustainable intensification in agriculture. In theory, it would increase the volume of agricultural production without further degrading the natural environment or compromising the food security of the world’s poorest people. In practice, difficult choices involving trade-offs between agricultural development and environmental protection have characterized most efforts at sustainable intensification. Against this backdrop, a series of studies have tried to identify an optimal strategy for sustainable intensification. This article argues that there is no one optimal strategy. Rather, optimal strategies vary across socio-ecological contexts. Distinct strategies of sustainable intensification have emerged (1) in peri-urban agriculture, (2) on large farms situated on prime agricultural lands, and (3) in smallholder-dominated agricultural districts. Government interventions to promote sustainable intensification should recognize and build on these distinct, place-based economic, and agro-ecological dynamics.

在经济增长和人口增加的情况下，环境继续恶化，这突出了追求农业可持续集约化的必要性。从理论上讲，这将增加农业生产量，而不会进一步破坏自然环境或损害世界上最贫困人口的粮食安全。实际上，涉及农业发展与环境保护之间权衡取舍的困难选择是可持续集约化努力的大部分。在这种背景下，一系列研究试图确定可持续集约化的最佳策略。本文认为，没有一种最佳策略。相反，最佳策略在社会生态环境中会有所不同。可持续集约化的独特战略已经出现（1）在城郊农业中；（2）在主要农业用地上的大型农场上；（3）在以小农为主的农业区中。政府为促进可持续集约化而采取的干预措施应认识到并建立在这些独特的，以地方为基础的经济和农业生态动态基础上。