Transition in global ecological agriculture: Functional products, intelligent processes, and bridging research and market gaps

Global ecological agriculture is undergoing a significant transition from loosely defined and varied practices toward a coherent, sustainable development model with clearly established quality standards. This shift is notably influenced by international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the European Green Deal, and China’s Green and Low Carbon Development Strategy. To better align agricultural research with practical application during this transitional phase, this paper highlights three core areas requiring detailed consideration and dialogue: the functionalization of ecological agricultural products, the intelligent management of agricultural processes, and bridging persistent gaps between agricultural research and market demands, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Functionalization of ecological agricultural products

The primary objective in the functionalization of ecological agricultural products involves applying precise and effective nutrient enhancement technologies to improve the nutritional quality and ecological attributes of agricultural commodities. In addition, the nutraceutical attributes of these products, referring to their potential health benefits beyond basic nutrition, should also be systematically explored and promoted.1 Nevertheless, the agricultural market remains challenged by inconsistent definitions and standards regarding key terms such as “ecological,” “green,” and “organic” products. Regional differences in agricultural infrastructure, technological capabilities, economic contexts, and cultural attitudes pose substantial barriers to establishing universally accepted standards.

To address these barriers, international collaboration coordinated by organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements has been proposed. Through such collaborative efforts, globally harmonized yet regionally adaptive standards could be established. These standards should be designed to ensure global consistency while respecting and protecting local agricultural uniqueness, thus avoiding product homogenization and fostering regional brand development. The Controlled Designation of Origin system in France exemplifies this approach.

At the technological level, modern life sciences research significantly contributes by identifying key functional genes and elucidating their regulatory mechanisms involved in nutrient biosynthesis and the production of nutraceutical compounds in agricultural products. For instance, genes such as phytoene synthase, essential for β-carotene synthesis in biofortified rice varieties, and ferritin genes that improve iron bioavailability in beans have been extensively studied. When selecting nutrient enhancement methods, it is important to consider the synergistic effects of traditional breeding, modern gene editing, and fertilization strategies. Technology-driven fortification strategies should complement, rather than replace, long-term considerations for agricultural biodiversity and the resilience of local food systems. Such strategies serve as supportive mechanisms to help ecological agricultural systems simultaneously achieve nutritional and environmental goals. Furthermore, promoting integrated crop-livestock systems and circular agricultural practices has been shown to potentially reduce production costs, optimize resource utilization, and enhance both ecological and economic sustainability concurrently. For example, these systems enable the recycling of nutrient-rich resources into animal feeds, which directly facilitates product functionalization. Through dietary supplementation, these approaches yield products like selenium-enriched and omega-3 eggs. Additionally, the incorporation of functional amino acids into animal diets has demonstrated significant benefits in enhancing immune responses and overall animal health, further exemplifying the advantages of targeted nutritional interventions within ecological agricultural systems.2 These innovations support the development of nutritionally fortified, health-promoting agricultural products aligned with consumer expectations.