The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, along with the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs—seven departments in total—have jointly issued the "14th Five-Year Plan for Soil, Groundwater, and Rural Ecological Environmental Protection." The plan outlines that by 2025, the overall quality of soil and groundwater across the country will remain stable, while the safe utilization of contaminated farmland and key development sites will be further strengthened. Additionally, agricultural non-point source pollution will begin to be effectively controlled, rural environmental infrastructure construction will steadily advance, and the rural ecological environment will continue to improve.
The plan sets forth eight specific ecological and environmental protection targets across three key areas: soil, groundwater, and agriculture & rural development. By 2025, the safe utilization rate of contaminated farmland will reach approximately 93%, ensuring effective management of safety for priority construction sites. Meanwhile, the proportion of Class V groundwater monitoring points—indicating poor water quality—will remain stable at around 25%, while water quality at "dual-source" monitoring locations will generally stay consistent. Additionally, there will be reductions in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for major crops, with an addition of 80,000 villages undergoing rural environmental improvements, and the rural domestic wastewater treatment rate expected to rise to 40%.
The plan outlines four key tasks, including soil and groundwater pollution prevention, groundwater contamination control, environmental management in agriculture and rural areas, and enhanced regulatory capacity. Additionally, to support the implementation of these primary objectives, the plan proposes four major projects: a source-control project for soil and groundwater pollution, a risk management and remediation project for soil and groundwater contamination, an agricultural non-point source pollution control project, and a rural environmental improvement project.
Click to download the full PDF version of the plan.
The agricultural and rural affairs department, as assigned by its responsibilities in the plan—
Strengthen source control of farmland pollution. Strictly control pollutant emissions from enterprises in industries involving heavy metals. Starting from 2023, in areas with concentrated mineral resource development activities, as well as in regions designated for safe utilization and strict control of cultivated land, the special emission limits for key heavy metals such as particulate matter and cadmium—outlined in the "Emission Standards for Lead and Zinc Industries," "Emission Standards for Copper, Nickel, and Cobalt Industries," and "Emission Standards for Inorganic Chemical Industries"—will be enforced.
In accordance with the "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Law," the "Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law," and relevant regulations on the management of the Key Pollutant Discharge Units List, enterprises emitting toxic and harmful air and water pollutants like cadmium—and meeting the specified criteria—will be included in the Key Pollutant Discharge Units List.
Additionally, enterprises involved in cadmium and other heavy-metal emissions listed as Key Air Pollutant Discharge Units must implement automatic monitoring of particulate matter in their atmospheric pollutant emissions by the end of 2023, as required by their discharge permits. This monitoring data will then be used to accurately calculate the actual emissions of particulate matter and other pollutants.
Finally, a comprehensive review and remediation campaign—referred to as the "look-back" initiative—will be conducted to reassess and address any remaining issues in industries related to cadmium and other heavy metals. The resulting updated list of pollution sources will be dynamically maintained to ensure ongoing progress in pollution control efforts.
Conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of heavy metal contamination in cultivated soil. Focusing on regions where soil heavy metal contamination is particularly severe, while also considering major grain-producing areas, long-term monitoring will be conducted on the input and output factors that affect soil environmental quality. A group of counties (cities, districts) with prominent issues of cadmium and other heavy metal contamination in cultivated land will be selected to carry out targeted, contiguous assessments aimed at identifying pathways of heavy metal pollution in farmland soils and tracing back to the sources of contamination. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and other relevant agencies will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Deeply implement classified management of cultivated land. We must significantly strengthen protection efforts. In accordance with the law, priority-protected farmland meeting the criteria should be designated as permanent basic farmland. In areas where permanent basic farmland is concentrated, no new construction projects that could potentially contaminate soil are permitted. Meanwhile, we will enhance quality oversight of agricultural inputs and strictly crack down on practices such as applying fertilizers containing excessive levels of heavy metals to farmland. Additionally, in major southern grain-producing regions like the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, a project will be implemented to reduce acidity and improve severely acidic soils. (The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and other relevant agencies will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Fully implement safety measures for responsible use and strict control protocols. Provinces are tasked with developing "14th Five-Year Plan" schemes for the safe utilization of contaminated farmland, along with annual action plans. These plans will clearly outline specific management measures for farmland classified as either safely utilized or under strict control within each administrative region, ensuring comprehensive implementation at the county or prefecture-level city level.
Additionally, region-specific and crop-type-based strategies will be established to build robust databases of safe utilization technologies and recommended crop varieties. Innovative approaches such as crop substitution, optimized water and fertilizer management, physiological barriers, and soil amendments will be promoted and scaled up across agricultural practices.
Provinces (or autonomous regions, municipalities) where large areas of safely utilized farmland are concentrated are encouraged to adopt measures like adjusting planting structures or converting farmland back to wetlands, in accordance with regulations.
Meanwhile, national-level expert advisory groups focused on safely utilized farmland will be set up in these provinces to provide enhanced guidance and support for local initiatives.
Furthermore, cutting-edge technologies such as satellite remote sensing will be explored to monitor the implementation of measures aimed at restructuring crop cultivation on strictly controlled farmland.
Finally, rigorous oversight will be strengthened throughout the grain storage, collection, and distribution processes to prevent grains exceeding heavy-metal safety standards from entering the food supply chain. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration will each take responsibility according to their respective duties.)
Dynamically adjusting the classification of arable land soil environmental quality. Based on dynamic adjustments to cultivated land soil environmental quality categories, informed by changes in land use, as well as collaborative monitoring results of soil and agricultural products, the adjusted outcomes will be reviewed and approved by the provincial-level people's government before being submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The resulting list will also be uploaded to the National Soil Environmental Information Platform. In principle, reclaimed industrial and mining lands that were previously used for the production, storage, recycling, or disposal of toxic and hazardous substances are prohibited from being converted back into farmland intended for growing food crops. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and other relevant departments will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Launch pilot demonstrations for soil pollution prevention and control. In regions such as the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Southwest China, and South China, a number of key counties will be selected to pilot safe land-use practices for cultivated land, driving demonstration projects aimed at ensuring the safe utilization of contaminated farmland in these areas. Meanwhile, in areas like the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Yellow River Basin, efforts will continue to advance the establishment of pioneering zones dedicated to soil pollution prevention and control. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and other departments will take responsibility according to their respective duties.)
Strengthen pollution prevention and control in the agricultural sector. Continuously promote the reduction and efficiency improvement of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Fully roll out precision fertilization practices, focusing on key regions such as major grain-producing areas and areas specialized in fruits, vegetables, and tea. Encourage soil-testing-based, formula-specific fertilization and the substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives, while also advocating for a balanced adjustment of fertilizer application strategies. Clearly define scientific fertilization targets, technical approaches, and priority measures for counties aiming to reduce chemical fertilizer use.
Advance the adoption of innovative fertilizers and technologies, including mechanical deep application, simultaneous seeding and fertilization, and integrated water-fertilizer management techniques. Meanwhile, push for reduced chemical pesticide use by promoting low-toxicity, low-residue options, integrating advanced green pest-control methods, and deploying high-efficiency plant protection machinery.
Encourage new types of agricultural operators and socialized service organizations to provide centralized fertilizer distribution and application services, as well as unified pest and disease control solutions.
Vigorously advance efficient water-saving agriculture. In regions where conditions permit, conduct monitoring of irrigation water quality and effluent discharge in typical areas like large- and medium-sized irrigation districts. Promote integrated approaches that combine recycling with ecological purification to manage agricultural runoff effectively.
By 2025, aim to reduce the overall national usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for major crops, while ensuring that their utilization rates reach at least 43% or higher across the board. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the Ministry of Water Resources will each take responsibility according to their respective duties.)
Enhance the recycling and utilization of straw and agricultural film. Establish a robust system for straw collection, storage, and transportation, while fostering and expanding a group of industrialized entities dedicated to straw utilization. Enhance the capacity for off-field collection, storage, transportation, and supply of straw, and refine systems for resource-based straw utilization and record-keeping management.
Deeply implement initiatives to recycle agricultural films, rigorously enforcing existing film management regulations. Build a comprehensive, end-to-end management framework covering the entire lifecycle of agricultural films—from production and sales to usage, recycling, and reuse. Promote the use of standardized mulch films, advance mechanized recovery of waste films, and explore the adoption of environmentally friendly, fully biodegradable mulch films. Additionally, encourage the scientific application and efficient recycling of agricultural films.
By 2025, strive to achieve an overall straw utilization rate of over 86% and an agricultural film recycling rate of at least 85%. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and other relevant departments will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Focus on advancing pollution prevention and control in the livestock industry. Strengthen the resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure. Improve supporting facilities for collecting and storing manure at livestock and poultry farms (including individual households), and establish comprehensive plans and records for manure resource recovery. Accelerate the construction of on-farm manure application infrastructure, encouraging the adoption of precision fertilization methods such as soil-covering application, trench application, and injection-based deep placement. Promote the scientific and balanced application of manure-based fertilizers, and encourage safety testing to ensure the proper return of manure to fields. Foster and expand a group of social service providers specializing in manure collection, transportation, and on-farm application. Major livestock-producing counties should develop and implement pollution control plans tailored to their specific livestock farming practices. By 2025, the national comprehensive utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure is expected to reach over 80%. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and other relevant departments will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Strengthen environmental oversight of livestock and poultry farming pollution. Implement environmental impact assessments and discharge permit systems for large-scale livestock and poultry farms, and regulate the management of no-breeding zones for livestock and poultry farming in accordance with the law. Encourage large-scale farms to install video surveillance systems to prevent unauthorized transportation and discharge of manure and wastewater. Promote regular self-monitoring by large-scale livestock and poultry farms that have discharge outlets. Strictly enforce environmental laws and regulations against any violations. Additionally, initiate pilot projects in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas to control atmospheric ammonia emissions from large-scale farms. By 2025, aim to reduce the total ammonia emissions from large-scale farms in these regions by 5%. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and other relevant departments will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Promote healthy aquaculture practices. Scientifically delineate prohibited, restricted, and permitted aquaculture zones. Focusing particularly on regions such as the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Basin, we will systematically remove aquaculture facilities that fail to meet regulatory standards, while promoting eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices. Additionally, we’ll accelerate the development of local discharge standards for aquaculture effluents, ensuring stricter oversight of wastewater emissions from industrialized farming operations. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and other relevant departments will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Promote supervision and guidance for the management of agricultural non-point source pollution. Focusing on the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin, pilot programs will be launched to tackle agricultural non-point source pollution, along with providing targeted supervision and guidance. Monitoring stations will be optimized and upgraded to enable simultaneous water quality and quantity assessments, with intensified monitoring efforts during critical periods such as flood seasons. Working at the small watershed level, pollutant load assessments will be conducted to identify key areas and timeframes for regulatory focus, leading to the development of a prioritized list of regions for remediation. Targeted management projects will then be implemented, with region-specific and category-based approaches designed to establish optimal management models and technical frameworks. Finally, performance evaluations of these remediation efforts will be carried out. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, and other relevant agencies will each take responsibility according to their respective duties.)
Addressing polluted and foul-smelling water bodies in rural areas. In conjunction with initiatives like building beautiful and livable villages, we will advance the remediation of black-and-odor rural water bodies. A national monitoring list for these polluted water bodies will be established, prioritizing immediate cleanup efforts through a "track-and-account" system, ensuring each issue is systematically addressed and resolved one by one.
Based on the specific causes of pollution and the intended functions of the water bodies, we will implement scientifically tailored measures, including source control and sewage interception, sediment dredging, ecological restoration, and advanced water purification techniques, to achieve both short-term and long-term solutions.
The results of the identification and remediation efforts will be publicly disclosed by each county (city, or district). Newly identified or re-contaminated rural water bodies will be promptly added to the monitoring list for targeted treatment, enabling dynamic management of the process.
We will fully leverage the River and Lake Chief System platform to ensure effective governance and ongoing maintenance of these water bodies. Additionally, pilot projects will be launched in select regions to demonstrate successful approaches for tackling black-and-odor rural water bodies, ultimately developing replicable and scalable models for both remediation and long-term management.
By 2025, large-scale rural black-and-odor water bodies are expected to be largely eliminated. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the National Administration of Rural Revitalization, among others, will take responsibility according to their respective duties.)
Managing rural domestic wastewater. Strengthen integrated urban-rural governance by promoting unified planning, construction, operation, and management of rural domestic wastewater treatment across county-level regions. Focus efforts on addressing wastewater issues in key areas such as water source protection zones, urban-rural fringe areas, township government seats, central villages, and tourist attractions.
Enhance the seamless integration of rural wastewater treatment with toilet renovation initiatives—particularly in areas where water-flush toilets have already been upgraded—and accelerate the implementation of wastewater treatment systems. Actively advance the resourceful reuse of treated wastewater, tailoring approaches to local conditions by connecting systems to municipal networks or implementing centralized or decentralized treatment solutions. Prioritize the adoption of cost-effective, low-maintenance wastewater treatment technologies that are easy to manage.
Focus on tackling the widespread problem of improper wastewater discharge by conducting comprehensive assessments of rural wastewater treatment outcomes. By 2025, aim to achieve a rural domestic wastewater treatment rate of approximately 55% in well-equipped and suitable regions such as eastern areas and the near-suburban districts of cities. In the better-equipped regions of central and western China, target a treatment rate of around 25%, while also ensuring meaningful improvements in wastewater management levels in remote, economically underdeveloped rural areas.
Managing rural household waste. Promote on-site sorting and resource utilization of rural household waste. Implement multiple measures to raise awareness and advance rural waste sorting, establishing a waste management system characterized by "government leadership, enterprise responsibility, and public participation." Guide villagers to properly sort and dispose of waste at the source, helping to reduce waste at its origin. Encourage regions with suitable conditions to develop local regulations for managing rural household waste sorting. Additionally, support the establishment of demonstration counties focused on rural waste sorting and resource recovery. (The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Rural Revitalization Administration, and the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives will each take responsibility according to their respective duties.)
Establish a sound system for the collection, transportation, and disposal of rural household waste. Based on local conditions, coordinate the construction and operation of facilities across county, township, and village levels, and carefully select appropriate collection, transportation, and disposal models. Strengthen rural solid waste collection, transportation, and disposal infrastructure, establish a robust, long-term operational framework, enhance daily monitoring, and continuously improve management and operational standards. Adapt to local conditions by adopting small-scale, decentralized, and environmentally sound treatment methods to minimize the costs associated with building and running collection, transfer, and disposal facilities. (The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Rural Revitalization Administration, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are responsible according to their respective duties.)
Establish a robust monitoring network. Enhance the soil environmental monitoring network by optimizing and adjusting the placement of soil monitoring sites, while strengthening the coordinated monitoring of agricultural land soil and crop products. Conduct at least one round of soil monitoring around key units subject to strict oversight for soil contamination. Launch surveys to assess soil pollution conditions on and around land used by typical industrial enterprises. Initiate pilot projects for soil ecological assessments. Focus particularly on regions like Hunan to explore the establishment of an atmospheric heavy-metal deposition monitoring network. Develop a groundwater monitoring network prioritizing drinking water sources, ecologically critical national areas, and groundwater pollution prevention and control efforts. Refine the "single integrated network" for monitoring agricultural non-point source pollution, gradually integrating ground-based monitoring with satellite remote sensing technologies to create a comprehensive, space-ground hybrid system. In key river basins such as the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, implement long-term observation programs aimed at preventing and controlling agricultural non-point source pollution. Promote routine monitoring of effluent quality from rural domestic wastewater treatment facilities capable of processing 20 tons or more per day. By 2025, ensure full county-level coverage of nationwide rural environmental quality monitoring sites and establish a preliminary framework for monitoring irrigation water quality in farmland. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other relevant agencies will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Strengthen technological support. Through national science and technology programs (including special projects and funding initiatives), we will support the research and development of technologies related to soil, groundwater, and pollution control in agriculture and rural areas. This includes conducting foundational studies on ecological toxicology of soil contaminants, understanding the mechanisms governing the migration and transformation of pollutants in soil, and developing models and critical exposure parameters for assessing soil contamination risks. Additionally, we will advance research into bioavailability testing and validation methods for pollutants like lead and arsenic in soil, while also driving the development of automated monitoring equipment for atmospheric emissions of heavy metals such as cadmium, as well as soil gas sampling devices.
Furthermore, we will investigate methods to track cumulative trends in farmland soil contamination over time. Simultaneously, we’ll promote the R&D and application of common key technologies and equipment for soil pollution risk management and remediation. We’ll also strengthen the development of environmental standard reference materials for soil and groundwater.
Other research areas will focus on tracing the origins of groundwater contamination, studying how karst and fractured aquifers influence pollutant transport and containment, exploring integrated approaches to address groundwater over-extraction and pollution simultaneously, ensuring high-quality water for groundwater recharge, safely sealing and backfilling abandoned wells, and safeguarding ecosystems that depend on groundwater resources.
In addition, we’ll conduct research on tracing and assessing agricultural non-point source pollution, as well as developing cutting-edge technologies for tackling black-and-odor water issues in rural areas. To support these efforts, we’ll establish robust databases and platforms for translating scientific advancements into practical applications.
Finally, we’ll deepen our research into policies and measures aimed at restoring and protecting rural ecosystems, thereby advancing the ecological revitalization of rural communities.
To bolster these initiatives, we’ll accelerate the establishment of key laboratories dedicated to soil, groundwater, and agricultural/rural environmental protection. Moreover, we’ll build a unified information platform for overseeing and managing soil, groundwater, and agricultural/rural environmental conditions.
Soil and Groundwater Pollution Risk Management and Remediation Project
Select 100 counties with large areas of soil contamination to launch demonstration projects for the safe use of agricultural land. Implement a series of pilot projects focusing on risk management and control of soil pollution at typical operating enterprises. Additionally, carry out groundwater pollution risk management and remediation initiatives in key industrial clusters—such as petrochemical, chemical, and coking facilities—in priority regions, while also launching several pilot groundwater remediation projects. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and other relevant departments will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention and Control Project
In environmentally sensitive areas of key river basins such as the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, 200 demonstration counties will be established to comprehensively manage agricultural non-point source pollution. (The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and other relevant departments will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Rural Environmental Improvement Project
Launch pilot demonstrations in 100 counties to tackle rural black-and-odorous water bodies and domestic wastewater, exploring effective governance models and establishing long-term mechanisms tailored to typical regions. (The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other departments will be responsible according to their respective duties.)
Source: China Government Network, Xinhua News Agency
