Research on the Antecedent Configurations of Tea Agricultural Heritage Systems for Sustainable Development from a Symbiotic Perspective

Based on the theories of symbiosis and configurational analysis, this study constructs a theoretical framework for exploring the sustainable development of tea agricultural heritage systems, with an empirical investigation of 40 typical cases in China. Utilizing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and integrating multi-source data, this study delves into the intricate mechanisms underlying its sustainable development. The findings indicate that the sustainable development of tea agricultural heritage systems is not determined by a single factor but results from the interplay of multiple conditions. Specifically, ecological protection performance and regional driving capacity serve as necessary conditions, while research resource allocation, industrial comprehensive strength, and heritage site development level act as sufficient conditions. Furthermore, the sustainable development pathways can be categorized into two types, namely “dual-cycle drive” and “total-factor drive”, encompassing four configurations. The “dual-cycle drive” emphasizes the mutually beneficial symbiosis between ecological and socio-economic sustainability, involving ecological protection, research resources, regional driving capacity, and industrial strength. The “total-factor drive”, on the other hand, reflects the synergistic symbiosis of ecology, socio-economy, and culture, incorporating various combinations of factors such as ecological protection, regional driving capacity, tea culture inheritance, and heritage site development. Lastly, the driving combinations leading to non-sustainable development exhibit asymmetry, suggesting that the formation of non-sustainability is not merely the reverse outcome of sustainable conditions. The absence of key conditions, such as ecological protection or regional driving capacity, results in the emergence of non-sustainable configurations. In conclusion, this study unveils the complexity and multidimensionality of the sustainable development of tea agricultural heritage systems, providing a scientific basis and practical pathways for formulating effective protection and sustainable development strategies.