Synergistic Evolution of Ecological Product Value Realization and Sustainable Rural Development: A Grounded Theory Study of the Liubao Tea Industry in China

Different from conventional ecosystem services valuation, which mainly focuses on identifying and measuring ecological values, EPVR emphasizes the institutional and industrial processes through which ecological values are transformed into economic and social benefits. Exploring the relationship between ecological product value realization and rural revitalization is crucial for addressing the insufficient transformation of ecological advantages into rural development momentum and the limited reciprocal contribution of specialty industries to local society. Taking the Liubao tea industry in Wuzhou, Guangxi, as a case, this study uses a grounded theory approach informed by a synergistic evolution perspective to examine the changing condition–action–outcome configurations between ecological product value realization and rural revitalization during industrial development. The findings show that ecological product value realization follows a phased trajectory from ecological resource value to ecological industry value and then to ecological asset value, while rural revitalization evolves from poverty alleviation-driven revitalization to the deepening of industrial revitalization and finally to agglomeration for fusion-driven revitalization. Across these trajectories, the synergistic relationship takes three dominant forms—resource mutual promotion, industrial interaction, and fusion synergy. The staged pattern reflects changes in both ecological value forms and rural participation during specialty-industry development. The findings reveal that EPVR and rural revitalization undergo parallel but interconnected evolutionary trajectories: ecological product value realization develops from ecological resource value to ecological industry value and finally to ecological asset value, while rural revitalization evolves from poverty alleviation-driven revitalization toward industrial deepening and fusion-oriented development. This study advances understanding of the relationship between ecological product value realization and rural revitalization by providing a process-based explanation within the context of a place-based specialty industry.