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Land
Special Issues
Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition
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Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Water, Energy, Land and Food (WELF) Nexus".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2025 | Viewed by 2652

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dingde Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sichuan Center for Rural Development Research, College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211 Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu 611130, China
Interests: land use policy; sustainable livelihoods and poverty; emergency management; rural sustainable development; climate change and behavioral response; resources and environment policy; policy evaluation; rural revitalization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Shili Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Economics, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 610074, China
Interests: farmers’ livelihood; ecological protection; green and low carbon; disaster economy; sustainable development; resource and environmental carrying capacity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Shaoquan Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mountain Development Research Center, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
Interests: land use policy; sustainable development of mountain areas; sustainable livelihoods for farmers; resources and environment policy; rural sustainable development; land use transformation; rural revitalization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue of Land entitled “Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition”.

Food security is the foundation of the stable development of human society and economy, and the land use policy of a country is closely related to food security. For example, in recent years, China has implemented a large number of land use policies (such as high-standard farmland construction, one household and one field, and the separation of three rights, etc.), which have profoundly affected the development of related markets (non-agricultural employment market, land transfer market, and socialized service market), changed the pattern of land use by farmers (self-support, transfer and abandon land), and contributed to the food security and sustainable development of China and even the world. However, we still lack systematic research and understanding on how these useful land use policies systematically affect market development, how to reshape farmers' land use patterns, how to change farmers’ planting structure, and how to ensure farmers’ food security and sustainable development. Based on this background, this Special Issue is dedicated to building a theoretical and practical research platform for studies systematically assessing the direct and indirect impacts of land use policies on food security and sustainable development. Original research and review articles in this research field are welcome. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Evolution of logic and enlightenment of land use policy;
  • Land use policy and market development;
  • Land use policy and food security;
  • Land use policy and sustainable development.

Dr. Dingde Xu
Dr. Shili Guo
Dr. Shaoquan Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • land use policy
  • market development
  • food security
  • sustainable development

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 2415 KiB  
Article
Time Allocation Effect: How Does the Combined Adoption of Conservation Agriculture Technologies Affect Income?
by Jing Zhang, Jingchun Wang, Yafei Li and Yueying Mu
Land 2025, 14(5), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14050973 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2025
Abstract
The adoption of conservation agriculture techniques plays a crucial role in preventing soil erosion and guaranteeing food security. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the adoption of conservation agricultural technologies on income. Based on the survey data of [...] Read more.
The adoption of conservation agriculture techniques plays a crucial role in preventing soil erosion and guaranteeing food security. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the adoption of conservation agricultural technologies on income. Based on the survey data of 922 households in five provinces and cities in the Bohai Rim region in 2023, the study analyzes the impact of different attributes of technology adoption on farm household income through ESR (endogenous switching regression) models and different forms of mediated effects models. The empirical results show the following: (1) The income effects generated by different adoption statuses of conservation agriculture (CA) technologies vary, and the income effects for farmers who adopt multiple conservation agriculture (CA) technologies jointly are even worse. (2) Farmers’ time allocation mediates the effects of technology attributes on adoption. Specifically, farm work is the main mediating variable, while off-farm work plays a moderating role between the yield effect and income. (3) The complex technology adoption chain inhibits farmers from increasing production and income, while the farmers’ jobs in the non-agricultural sector have reduced this impact to a certain extent. In terms of policy recommendations, governments should enhance technical training programs for farmers, improve the market environment, and offer access to highly mechanized agricultural production trusteeship services to encourage the greater adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) technology among farmers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition)
25 pages, 2583 KiB  
Article
Revitalizing Idle Rural Homesteads: Configurational Paths of Farmer Differentiation and Cognition Synergistically Driving Revitalization Intentions
by Mengyuan Lu, Bin Guo and Xinyu Wang
Land 2025, 14(5), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14050912 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 230
Abstract
Against the intensifying mismatch between urban and rural land resources, activating farmers’ intentions to revitalize their idle homesteads is a key issue in optimizing land resource allocation and promoting urban–rural integrated development. However, existing studies mostly focus on the marginal effect of a [...] Read more.
Against the intensifying mismatch between urban and rural land resources, activating farmers’ intentions to revitalize their idle homesteads is a key issue in optimizing land resource allocation and promoting urban–rural integrated development. However, existing studies mostly focus on the marginal effect of a single factor and ignore the synergistic effect of multiple factors, making it difficult to reveal the complex causal logic of farmers’ decision-making. This study aims to explain the causal asymmetry and equivalent path problem in farmers’ revitalized decision-making by capturing the multidimensional interaction mechanism of “external stimulus–mental cognition”. This study integrates the social stratification theory, the theory of planned behavior, and the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework to systematically explore how the interactive configuration of farmer differentiation and cognition from a multidimensional perspective drives the formation of farmers’ willingness to engage in high inventory activities, based on the 881 farmer research data in Shaanxi Province, using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) methodology. This study found that (1) a single condition cannot independently explain the intentions of farmers to revitalize, and its formation needs to rely on the synergistic linkage of multiple conditions; (2) the configuration of farmers’ high intentions to revitalize includes “wealth capital differentiation–dual cognitive-driven type”, “single cognitive-driven type”, “reputation capital differentiation–single cognitive-driven type”, “wealth capital differentiation–single cognitive-driven type”, which wealth capital differentiation is the common core condition triggering high intention; and (3) the formation of farmers’ low revitalization intentions stems from the insufficient differentiation of farmers and the lack of cognitive elements. Therefore, policymakers should take a holistic perspective in enhancing farmers’ revitalization intentions, focusing on the rational allocation between farmer differentiation and farmers’ cognition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 7896 KiB  
Article
How Does Land Urbanization Affect Carbon Emissions in China? Evidence from 209 Cities and Three Heterogeneous Regions in the East of the Hu Line of China
by Hanlong Gu, Xueting Chen, Haohang Sun, Chongyang Huan and Bingyi Wang
Land 2025, 14(4), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040910 - 21 Apr 2025
Viewed by 278
Abstract
Land urbanization (LU) is a defining feature of China’s urbanization process and has led to significant carbon emission challenges. To clarify the interaction mechanism between LU and carbon emissions (CEs), this study examines the temporal and spatial characteristics of LU and CEs as [...] Read more.
Land urbanization (LU) is a defining feature of China’s urbanization process and has led to significant carbon emission challenges. To clarify the interaction mechanism between LU and carbon emissions (CEs), this study examines the temporal and spatial characteristics of LU and CEs as well as the direct and spatial spillover effects in the east of the Hu Line. Specifically, three representative regions are selected for heterogeneity analysis: the Three Northeast Provinces region (TNP), the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH), and the Southeast Coastal region (SC). The findings are as follows: (1) Both LU and CEs exhibited consistent upward trends, with average annual growth rates of 4.3% and 3.5%, respectively. (2) Empirical results demonstrate that the direct and indirect effect coefficients of LU on CEs are 0.129 and −0.224, respectively. (3) The direct effect of LU on CEs is significantly positive in both the TNP and the SC, with respective coefficients of 0.336 and 0.177. Notably, a positive spatial spillover effect is observed exclusively in the TNP, with a coefficient of 0.174. In contrast, LU exerts no significant influence on CEs in the BTH. The research findings offer valuable insights into the formulation of differentiated urbanization policies and effective carbon emission reduction policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 1163 KiB  
Article
Agricultural Social Services and Land Transfer: A Multidimensional Analysis of Impacts on Land Allocation
by Xi Yu, Walliams Ali and Dongmei Li
Land 2025, 14(4), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040855 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 239
Abstract
Land transfer is a crucial measure for optimizing cropland allocation and improving production efficiency, especially in resource-scarce countries. Drawing on a sample of 858 farmers from Sichuan Province, China, this study examines whether agricultural social services (ASSs) drive land transfer. Unlike previous research [...] Read more.
Land transfer is a crucial measure for optimizing cropland allocation and improving production efficiency, especially in resource-scarce countries. Drawing on a sample of 858 farmers from Sichuan Province, China, this study examines whether agricultural social services (ASSs) drive land transfer. Unlike previous research that focused on a single dimension, such as participation or scale, this paper examines land transfer behavior from three dimensions: participation, scale, and future transfer willingness. Using an endogenous switching regression model and a probit model, we analyze unique cross-sectional farm-level data collected from rural China. The results indicate that ASSs have a positive and significant impact on land transfer behavior: (1) ASS adoption increases the land transfer participation rate by 13.7%. (2) The transfer area increases by 74.34% due to ASSs. (3) The likelihood of future transfer increases by 4.2% with ASS adoption. These findings suggest that fostering a supportive environment for agricultural social services can enhance the land transfer market and contribute to sustainable modernization of the agricultural sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 7561 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Change of Crop Yield and Its Response to Planting Structural Shifts in Northeast China from 2001 to 2021
by Xu Lin, Yaqun Liu and Jieyong Wang
Land 2025, 14(3), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030640 - 18 Mar 2025
Viewed by 376
Abstract
As a pivotal region for safeguarding China’s food security, Northeast China requires a quantitative evaluation of crop yield dynamics, planting structure shifts, and their interdependent mechanisms. Leveraging MODIS NPP data and remote sensing-derived crop classification data from 2001 to 2021, this study established [...] Read more.
As a pivotal region for safeguarding China’s food security, Northeast China requires a quantitative evaluation of crop yield dynamics, planting structure shifts, and their interdependent mechanisms. Leveraging MODIS NPP data and remote sensing-derived crop classification data from 2001 to 2021, this study established a crop yield estimation model. By integrating the Theil–Sen median slope estimator and Mann–Kendall trend analysis, we systematically investigated the spatiotemporal characteristics of maize, rice, and soybean yields. Phased attribution analysis was further employed to quantify the effects of crop type conversions on total regional yield. The results revealed: (1) strong consistency between estimated yields and statistical yearbook data, with validation R2 values of 0.76 (maize), 0.69 (rice), and 0.81 (soybean), confirming high model accuracy; (2) significant yield growth areas that spatially coincided with the core black soil zone, underscoring the productivity-enhancing role of conservation tillage practices; (3) all three crops exhibited upward yield trends, with annual growth rates of 1.33% (maize), 1.20% (rice), and 1.68% (soybean). Spatially, high-yield maize areas were concentrated in the southeast, rice productivity peaked along river basins, and soybean yields displayed a distinct north-high-south-low gradient; (4) crop type transitions contributed to a net yield increase of 35.9177 million tons, dominated by soybean-to-maize conversions (50.41% contribution), while maize-to-soybean shifts led to a 2.61% yield reduction. This study offers actionable insights for optimizing planting structures and tailoring grain production strategies in Northeast China, while providing a methodological framework for crop yield estimation in analogous regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 8342 KiB  
Article
Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Cultivated Land Productivity in a Large City: Case Study of Chengdu, Sichuan, China
by Yuanli Liu, Qiang Liao, Zhouling Shao, Wenbo Gao, Jie Cao, Chunyan Chen, Guitang Liao, Peng He and Zhengyu Lin
Land 2025, 14(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020239 - 23 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 671
Abstract
Given the constraints of limited cultivated land resources, ensuring and enhancing crop productivity are crucial for food security. This study takes Chengdu as a case study. Using the cultivated land productivity (CLP) evaluation model, we calculated the cultivated land productivity index (CLPI) and [...] Read more.
Given the constraints of limited cultivated land resources, ensuring and enhancing crop productivity are crucial for food security. This study takes Chengdu as a case study. Using the cultivated land productivity (CLP) evaluation model, we calculated the cultivated land productivity index (CLPI) and analyzed its spatial distribution characteristics. The Geographical Detector model was employed to identify the main factors influencing CLP, and corresponding countermeasures and measures were proposed based on the limiting degrees of these factors. The findings reveal that Chengdu’s CLP index ranges from 1231 to 3053. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates a spatial agglomeration pattern in Chengdu’s overall crop productivity distribution. The local spatial autocorrelation analysis demonstrates that township (street)-level crop productivity in Chengdu is primarily characterized by “high–high”, “low–low”, and “low–high” clusters. Key factors influencing the spatial differentiation of CLP in Chengdu include the agronomic management level, soil bulk density, irrigation guarantee rate, soil body configuration, field slope, and farmland flood control standard. Interaction detection shows that there are both double-factor and nonlinear enhancements among the factors. Specifically, the interaction between soil bulk density and the agronomic management level among other factors have the most explanatory power for the spatial differentiation of CLP. The CLP in Chengdu is highly restricted by its technical level, with the agronomic management level severely limiting CLP by more than 50%. These research results provide a theoretical reference for regional high-standard farmland construction and the protection and utilization of cultivated land resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Policy and Food Security: 2nd Edition)
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