the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development was founded in 1958 and was New China 's first national scientific research institution specialized in agricultural economics and policy research, undertaking the responsibility of providing policy advice and decision-making advice to all levels of government and agribusiness, and cultivating senior personnels for agricultural policy research and administration management and business as well as taking on international cooperation and academic exchange and other tasks. As the earliest unit with a doctorate and master's degree -granting right, Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development (hereinafter referred to as "Agricultural Economics institute") has superior running conditions and strong cultivation capacity, with outstanding scientific and technological Innovation team from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences---"innovative Agricultural Policy Analysis Team" and two key teams of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences---"innovative team of technical economy and industrial development" and "Innovation team of industrial organization and rural development", two policy analysis platforms---"Key open laboratory national agricultural policy analysis and decision support systems"and "Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences agricultural economics and policy advisory group".

Agricultural Economics Institute currently has 21 doctoral tutors, 28 master tutors. By December 2011, there are totally 82 postgraduates studying at the institute, including 49 doctoral students, 30 graduate students for master degree and three oversea students. in 2011, Agricultural Economics Institute had 11 graduate students for master degree totally, and 13 doctoral students completed thesis defense and received doctoral degree. in 2011, Agricultural Economics instute recruited a totalof 32 graduates, including 18 doctoral students, 12 graduate for master degree, and two oversea students. in scientific research, the research direction of discipline focused on cutting-edge, forward-looking and practical issues and paid great attention to major social issues, highlighting the instruction significance of scientific research for China's agricultural economic policy-making. in talents cultivation, the Institute takes full advantage of national outstanding student’s source, and has trained a large number of outstanding talents through laying emphasis on characteristic talent cultivation from the close integration of basic theory and practical application.

Economics and Management in Agriculture and Forestry is a discipline with first-level doctoral degree authorization approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council in 2003. Second-grade discipline of Economics and Management in Agriculture and Forestry under the descipline of Agricultural Economics and Management is a traditional advantageous discipline. the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council respectively approved the authorization right of master's degree and doctorate degree of Agricultural Economics and Management in November,1981 and July 1986.Currently, there are five second-grade disciplines including Agricultural Economics and Management,   Agricultural Resources and Environmental Economics, international Agricultural Trade, Agricultural Technological Economy and industrial Economy under Agriculture and Forestry Economics and Management (After 2012, four independent second-level disciplines were set up).Agriculture and Forestry Economic Management chooses China's "Three Rural" issues as a basic research object, closely around the priorities, hot and difficult issues in the development of "Three Rural"  to conduct research on theory and practice.

Agricultural Economics and Management is the traditional dominant discipline of the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, whose main research directions include agriculture economic theories and policies, food security and development, rural finance and banking, regional development and poverty reduction. Agricultural Resources and Environmental Economics is a newly discipline established according to the demands of discipline development and social practice, and its main research directions include agri-environmental economics, agricultural resources management, rural energy economy, climate change and low-carbon economy. international Agricultural Trade is a discipline specialized in agricultural products and market research related rules, and the main research interests refer to international trade theory and policy, agricultural markets and the circulation of agricultural trade and the environment and foreign agricultural economy. Agricultural Technology Economy is a cross -disciplinary application-oriented discipline with Chinese characteristics, and the main research directions are composed of technical and economic evaluation, technological development and policy, technological Innovation and management and modern agriculture development and evaluation. industrial Economy is a discipline developed by adapting to the rapid development of production practice, and major research directions include planting economy, animal husbandry economy, industrial organization and supply chain management, and corporate governance and financial management.