The　objective　of　this　paper　is　to　conduct　a　comparative　analysis　of　the　real　and　potential　CO2　emission　intensity　in　China’s　agricultural　sector.　In　order　to　perform　this　goal,　this　paper　combines　the　concept　of　the　meta-frontier　efficiency　and　the　directional　distance　function　to　process　empirical　work.　This　methodology　allows　for　the　incorporation　of　technological　heterogeneities　into　the　efficiency　analysis　and　implementation　results　of　increment　in　desirable　outputs　and　reduction　in　undesirable　outputs.　Empirical　results　indicate　that　the　average　total-factor　CO2　emission　efficiency　is　0.481　and　has　a　slight　downward　trend　over　the　studied　period,　which　is　lower　than　that　of　the　whole　industry　in　China.　CO2　emission　efficiency　and　the　technology　gap　ratios　among　different　regions　in　China’s　agricultural　sector　show　different　space–time　characteristics.　A　comparative　analysis　is　applied　in　this　study　to　verify　the　relationship　between　the　actual　and　potential　CO2　intensities,　whose　average　values　are,　respectively,　0.1972　and　0.0816 Mtc/billion　yuan　RMB.　Research　shows　that　there　exists　huge　space　for　CO2　intensity　reduction.　Meanwhile,　the　major　contributor　to　the　potential　CO2　intensity　reduction　varies　across　different　regions,　as　managerial　failure　for　most　provinces　in　the　eastern　and　central　regions　and　technology　gap　in　the　western　regions.　©　2020,　Islamic　Azad　University　(IAU).