Green Technology Innovation in Yunnan's Plateau Agriculture: Solutions for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Rural Revitalization

Abstract

Agricultural practices on the Yunnan plateau are increasingly threatened by heavy metal contamination arising from mining activities and intensive farming, posing substantial risks to food safety and the sustainability of local agriculture. While green technologies offer environmentally sustainable solutions, their uptake has been limited due to fragmented regulatory frameworks, inadequate institutional support, and low levels of engagement among farmers. This research sought to examine the role of green technologies in alleviating heavy metal pollution, evaluate their impact on rural revitalization, and identify gaps in policy and innovation that hinder sustainable agricultural development within Yunnan’s plateau regions. A qualitative Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted, employing explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria to select peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025. The PRISMA protocol guided the screening and selection process, and thematic analysis was applied to categorise the results into three primary domains: pollution mitigation, rural revitalization, and policy and innovation gaps. The analysis indicates that approaches such as phytoremediation, biochar application, and microbial remediation are effective in substantially reducing heavy metal contamination. Additionally, initiatives involving digital technologies, green financing mechanisms, and cooperative models have demonstrated potential in supporting rural revitalization. Despite these advances, challenges including weak governance structures, regional inequalities, and barriers to technology adoption continue to limit the widespread integration of green technologies in Yunnan. Green technologies provide concurrent benefits for ecological restoration and the socioeconomic revitalization of rural communities in Yunnan. Nonetheless, achieving effective and equitable agricultural transformation requires comprehensive policy reforms and the development of innovation strategies tailored to local contexts.