Land Use and Food Security in China's Urbanizing Regions: Problems and Possibilities

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 11373

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Guest Editor
School of Spatial Planning and Design, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
Interests: sustainable urban planning; sustainable urban land use; resilient cities; land policies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Planning and Environmental Management, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Interests: urban regeneration; urbanization in China; job-housing relationship; application of GIS and advanced quantitative methods in spatial planning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Land use and food security in China's urbanizing regions is a critical and multifaceted topic that involves a complex interplay between urban development, agricultural practices, and the availability of arable land. In the past several decades, China has experienced rapid urbanization that led to urban land expansion and the continuous migration of the rural population to urban areas. This transformation affects the amount of cultivable land resources, agricultural productivity, and access to nutritious food. To guarantee food self-sufficiency with limited farmland resources, the land use pattern has shifted from extensive to intensive agriculture. Although this change has a significant impact on the national grain output, it also poses serious challenges to the environment. Against this background, it becomes essential to identify challenges and explore opportunities for land use and food security to adapt to rapid urbanization.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) to increase the scientific understanding of the current status of land use and food security in the urbanizing regions of China. Since the challenges of land use and food security are complex, addressing these challenges often requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that considers environmental, social, and economic factors. This Special Issue seeks to pave the way for innovative solutions that promote land use and food security in the face of urbanization. Therefore, this Special Issue will welcome new insights on strategic planning, innovative agricultural practices, and effective policies to balance the demand for land use and secure food supply.

Submissions are encouraged on, but are not limited to, the following sub-themes

  • Population and land bearing capacity;
  • Environmental impacts and ecological restoration;
  • Regional coordination and collaboration for land use and food security;
  • Human caloric balance from the perspectives of land use and food security.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Haijun Bao
Dr. Helen Zheng
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • land use change
  • land protection
  • food security
  • food production
  • spatial planning and design
  • urban management
  • environmental governance

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 5393 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Non-Grain Production Rate of Planting Structure in Jilin Province from the Perspective of Grain Security
by Tianqi Tang, Yongzhi Wang, Shibo Wen, Tengrui Yu, Liye Liu and Hongzhi Yang
Land 2025, 14(2), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020212 - 21 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 797
Abstract
Grain security is the foundation of national security, and non-grain production of cultivated land (NGPCL) poses a challenge to grain security. Existing research on the NGPCL has mainly focused on large-scale studies, with relatively few analyses at smaller scales, such as county-level units. [...] Read more.
Grain security is the foundation of national security, and non-grain production of cultivated land (NGPCL) poses a challenge to grain security. Existing research on the NGPCL has mainly focused on large-scale studies, with relatively few analyses at smaller scales, such as county-level units. Therefore, we selected Jilin Province, one of China’s most important grain-producing areas, as the study region. We extracted data on NGPCL from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, and calculated the non-grain production rate of cultivated land for each of the province’s counties. Based on this, we used the gravity center and standard deviation ellipse models, and spatial autocorrelation analysis tools to reveal the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the non-grain production rate of the planting structure (NGPRPS) in Jilin Province. Finally, we applied the geographic detector to analyze the impact of 10 factors on the changes in the NGPRPS. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the NGPRPS in Jilin Province generally showed a downward trend, which can be divided into three phases: fluctuation, decline, and an initial increase followed by a decrease. (2) There is a clear spatial differentiation in the non-grain production of planting structure (NGPPS) in Jilin Province, with the spatial pattern being generally low in the center and higher at the periphery. In the early stage, the non-grain production rate (NGPR) increased rapidly, while in the later stage, the spatial distribution of NGPPS became more pronounced in the southeastern direction. (3) In the short term, policy factors played a significant role in the changes in the NGPRPS. In the long term, however, natural environment, production resources, economic level, and social development showed interactive effects on the changes in the NGPR in the region. Based on these findings, the government can adopt corresponding measures and management policies considering the impact of these factors, the research results, and the proposed strategies. These include the rational implementation of land use planning, delineating the baseline for cultivated land protection, and controlling the use of cultivated land. Full article
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24 pages, 9643 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Spatial-Temporal Characteristics and Driving Factors of Cultivated Land Fragmentation Under the Expansion of Urban and Rural Construction Land: A Case Study of Ezhou City
by Ke Feng, Haoran Gao, Liping Qu and Jian Gong
Land 2024, 13(11), 1905; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111905 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1041
Abstract
A systematic understanding of the spatial-temporal evolution patterns of cultivated land fragmentation (CLF), its driving factors, and its relationship with the expansion of urban and rural construction land is essential for identifying strategies to mitigate CLF in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study combined [...] Read more.
A systematic understanding of the spatial-temporal evolution patterns of cultivated land fragmentation (CLF), its driving factors, and its relationship with the expansion of urban and rural construction land is essential for identifying strategies to mitigate CLF in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study combined landscape fragmentation with ownership fragmentation, analyzing CLF through three dimensions: resource endowment, spatial concentration, and convenience of utilization, with eight selected indicators. By comparing village-level data from 2013 to 2022, we explored the key drivers of CLF and its conflicts with urban and rural construction land expansion. The findings indicate a clear spatial variation in village-level CLF in Ezhou, characterized by low fragmentation in the northwest and northeast, and high fragmentation in the southwest and central regions. This pattern is in contrast to Ezhou’s economic development, which decreased progressively from east to north and south. Over the study period, village-level CLF in Ezhou evolved from being primarily moderately and relatively severely fragmented to predominantly severely and relatively severely fragmented, with an overall declining trend and more pronounced polarization. At the same time, the CLF within the village region demonstrated notable spatial clustering features, with a rapid increase observed between 2013 and 2022. It was also discovered that CLF is driven by various factors, with the main influences being the proportion of construction land, land use intensity, and population density. Cultivated land is the main source of both urban construction land (UCL) and rural construction land (RCL), with average contribution rates of 46.47% and 62.62%, respectively. This research offers empirical evidence for rapid urbanization and serves as a critical reference for rural revitalization and coordinated urban–rural development, with potential guidance for future policy formulation and implementation. Full article
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20 pages, 790 KiB  
Article
A Study of the Mechanisms of Government Embedment and Organizational Environment Related to Supervisory Effectiveness in the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land
by Zhongjian Yang, Hong Tang, Wenxiang Zhao and Ruiping Ran
Land 2024, 13(11), 1760; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111760 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 724
Abstract
Rural Residential Land is a kind of public pond resource, and the implementation of the collective governance of Rural Residential Land is a response to the dilemma of utilizing the land. This paper takes the attribute of using Rural Residential Land as a [...] Read more.
Rural Residential Land is a kind of public pond resource, and the implementation of the collective governance of Rural Residential Land is a response to the dilemma of utilizing the land. This paper takes the attribute of using Rural Residential Land as a public pond resource as an entry point, draws on Autonomous Governance Theory, and utilizes the OLS model and the mediated effect model to explore the influence of Government Embedment on supervisory effectiveness in the collective governance of Rural Residential Land, based on the fieldwork data of 450 farming households in three districts (cities and counties) in Sichuan Province. This study shows that Government Embedment, the Technological Environment and the Cultural Environment can significantly enhance supervisory effectiveness in the collective governance of Rural Residential Land, while the Resource Environment has a negative effect on it. The Resource Environment has a masking effect on the influence of Government Embedment on supervisory effectiveness in the collective governance of Rural Residential Land, while the Technological Environment and the Cultural Environment play a part in the mediating effect. The anonymous whistleblowing mechanism positively moderates the influence of the Technological and Cultural Environments on supervisory effectiveness. Additionally, there is obvious locational heterogeneity in the influence of Government Embedment and the Organizational Environment on supervisory effectiveness. Therefore, a coordinated supervision and sanctioning mechanism should be constructed in towns and villages to promote the integration and complementarity of formal and informal systems; a sound mechanism for anonymous reporting of illegal and irregular use of Rural Residential Land should be established; and the effective implementation of the collective governance of Rural Residential Land should be promoted in accordance with the differences in the location of the villages. Full article
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23 pages, 1901 KiB  
Article
Economic and Environmental Effects of Farmers’ Green Production Behaviors: Evidence from Major Rice-Producing Areas in Jiangxi Province, China
by Mengling Zhang, Li Zhou, Yuhan Zhang and Wangyue Zhou
Land 2024, 13(10), 1668; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101668 - 13 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1313
Abstract
This study examines the economic and environmental impacts of green production practices among farmers. It aims to contribute to sustainable agricultural development, mitigate agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution, and align environmental protection with economic growth. This paper utilizes survey data from 1345 farm [...] Read more.
This study examines the economic and environmental impacts of green production practices among farmers. It aims to contribute to sustainable agricultural development, mitigate agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution, and align environmental protection with economic growth. This paper utilizes survey data from 1345 farm households in the main rice production areas of Jiangxi Province, China, using the example of reduced fertilizer application (RFA) among rice farmers. This study constructs a slack-based measure data envelopment analysis (DEA—SBM) model with undesirable outputs to measure environmental effects and applies an endogenous switching regression model (ESRM) to test the economic and environmental effects of farmers’ adoption of green production technologies. We found the following: (1) The RFA behavior of farmers has a significant positive impact on their net profit per hectare (NPH), helping farmers increase their income, with the increase ranging from 2.05% to 6.54%. (2) Farmers’ RFA behavior has a significant positive impact on agricultural green productivity (AGP), contributing to the improvement of the environment, ranging from 44.09% to 45.35%. (3) A heterogeneity analysis found inconsistencies in the income-enhancing and environmental-enhancing effects at different quantiles of NPH and AGP. Therefore, attention should be placed on improving the agricultural product quality supervision system under the market circulation mechanism, creating land scale conditions conducive to the promotion and application of fertilizer reduction technologies and promoting the implementation of externality internalization compensation systems. Full article
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18 pages, 925 KiB  
Article
An Investigation into the Mechanism of Government Embedment and Organizational Environment Influencing Farmers’ Credible Commitment in Regard to the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land
by Zhongjian Yang, Hong Tang, Jiafang Jin and Ruiping Ran
Land 2024, 13(9), 1520; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091520 - 19 Sep 2024
Viewed by 789
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of Government Embedment and Organizational Environment on farmers’ Credible Commitment in regard to the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land and to inform decision-making processes that promote farmers’ compliance with Rural Residential Land [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of Government Embedment and Organizational Environment on farmers’ Credible Commitment in regard to the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land and to inform decision-making processes that promote farmers’ compliance with Rural Residential Land management regulations and enhance the effectiveness of the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land. The research employs various models, including Oprobit, Ologit, IV-2SLS, and moderated mediation. The research results show that (1) both Government Embedment and the Cultural Environment within the Organizational Context significantly enhance Farmers’ Credible Commitment in regard to the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land. Notably, the quality of the Cultural Environment, when improved by Government Embedment, boosts this commitment further. (2) Endogeneity issues can lead to an overestimation of the effects of these factors. (3) Punishment intensity only positively moderates the impact of the Cultural Environment on Farmers’ Credible Commitment. (4) The moderating effect of punishment intensity correlates positively with its strength, exhibiting a threshold value. In conclusion, our research underscores the need to establish a robust regulatory framework for Rural Residential Land use, foster a conducive village cultural atmosphere, and consistently enhance the punishment intensity for illegal Rural Residential Land use. These measures will encourage farmers to adhere to Credible Commitment in regard to Rural Residential Land use, thereby facilitating the effective implementation of Collective Governance over Rural Residential Land. Full article
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17 pages, 3875 KiB  
Article
Spillover Impacts of the Utilization of Winter Fallow Fields on Grain Production and Carbon Emissions
by Lanping Tang, Ge Shen, Min Cheng, Chengchao Zuo, Feiyang Li, Hang Liu and Shaohua Wu
Land 2024, 13(8), 1300; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081300 - 16 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1171
Abstract
Abandoned cropland is a widespread issue globally, with the impacts of utilizing abandoned cropland, such as grain production and carbon emissions, raising increasing concern. However, existing studies have largely overlooked the potential spillover effects on other regions through grain flows when increasing grain [...] Read more.
Abandoned cropland is a widespread issue globally, with the impacts of utilizing abandoned cropland, such as grain production and carbon emissions, raising increasing concern. However, existing studies have largely overlooked the potential spillover effects on other regions through grain flows when increasing grain production in one region by utilizing abandoned cropland. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively estimate the impacts of using winter fallow fields (a typical seasonal abandoned cropland) on grain production and carbon emissions, particularly its neglected spillover impact. Focusing on Zhejiang province, this study used remote sensing techniques to identify winter fallow fields in 2018 and then assessed the impact of using those winter fallow fields on grain production based on grain yield data from the FAO, as well as its local and spillover impacts on carbon emissions based on the Greenhouse Gas Emission Factor method and a transportation carbon emission model. The results indicate the following: (1) The winter fallow fields in Zhejiang cover 5,161,000 hectares, accounting for 40.8% of the total cropland, with a notable prevalence in Jiaxing, Huzhou, Jinhua, and Quzhou. (2) Using winter fallow fields would increase grain production by 1,870,000 tons. (3) At the same time, local carbon emissions would rise by 261,000 tons if using winter fallow fields, but this would be paired with a reduction of 668,000 tons of carbon emissions from other regions (that is, a spillover impact), reflecting a net reduction (−447,000 tons) in overall emissions. In conclusion, using winter fallow fields can achieve a ‘win–win’ effect, increasing grain production while reducing carbon emissions. This study highlights that the spillover effects of using winter fallow fields on carbon emissions significantly surpass the localized impact, underscoring a critical aspect that has been traditionally undervalued, which should be paid more attention when policymakers formulate and implement cropland use policies. This study not only contributes to the academic discourse on sustainable land management but also serves as a practical guide for policymakers seeking to optimize agricultural productivity while curtailing the carbon footprint, thereby advancing towards a more secure and environmentally responsible food system. Full article
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23 pages, 13511 KiB  
Article
Breaking the Boundary between Permanent Capital Farmland and Arable Land in China: Understanding State and Drivers of Permanent Capital Farmland Non-Grain Production in a Rapid Urbanizing County
by Yunjie Shi, Hengpeng Li, Jianwei Geng, Akida Askar, Zhongjing Zhao, Jiaping Pang, Wangshou Zhang and Yuyang Shao
Land 2024, 13(8), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081226 - 7 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1510
Abstract
Amid unprecedented challenges to protect arable land, China’s permanent capital farmland (PCF) has played a crucial role in grain production. However, a clear legal and physical boundary between PCF and arable land seems to be unable to stop the spread of non-grain production. [...] Read more.
Amid unprecedented challenges to protect arable land, China’s permanent capital farmland (PCF) has played a crucial role in grain production. However, a clear legal and physical boundary between PCF and arable land seems to be unable to stop the spread of non-grain production. To address it, an analysis framework for PCF non-grain production was developed to examine the state and drivers of village-scale PCF non-grain production based on the logical relationship between PCF and arable land in the rapid urbanization of Liyang. The results suggested that PCF comprised approximately 70% arable land and 30% adjustable land. Meanwhile, forest land and aquaculture ponds occupied over 25% of PCF, while nearly 20% of PCF is unsuitable for the resumption of crop cultivation. The transition state (scenario SR) offered a realistic representation of PCF non-grain production, with an average non-grain production of 48.88%. This is 14.00% lower than the current state (scenario SD) and 9.65% higher than the future state (scenario ST). Furthermore, PCF area and agricultural income per capita significantly encouraged PCF non-grain production, with explanatory powers of 51.60% and 42.40%, respectively. In contrast, urbanization rate (with an explanatory power of 35.30%) significantly discouraged it. Therefore, this paper proposed PCF redefinition, flexible PCF, and diversified economic incentives to mitigate PCF non-grain production at the village scale. Full article
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16 pages, 508 KiB  
Article
The Effect of High-Standard Farmland Construction Policy on Grain Harvest Losses in China
by Nanyan Hu, Yonghao Hu, Yi Luo and Laping Wu
Land 2024, 13(7), 1058; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071058 - 15 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1450
Abstract
The United Nations included reducing harvest losses as a Sustainable Development Goal in 2015, sparking heightened research and policymaker interest in reducing losses to ensure food security. High-standard farmland construction plays a crucial role in ensuring food security. Few studies have combined high-standard [...] Read more.
The United Nations included reducing harvest losses as a Sustainable Development Goal in 2015, sparking heightened research and policymaker interest in reducing losses to ensure food security. High-standard farmland construction plays a crucial role in ensuring food security. Few studies have combined high-standard farmland construction with grain harvest losses. Drawing on the data from the 2022 Chinese Post-Harvest Loss Survey (CPHLS 2022), the study utilizes OLS (ordinary least square) and quantile regression models to explore the impact of high-standard farmland construction on grain harvest losses. Empirical results show that high-standard farmland construction can significantly reduce grain harvest losses. The research conclusions are still valid after passing a series of robustness tests. The heterogeneity analysis shows that high-standard farmland construction significantly impacts on grain harvest losses for farmers in major grain-producing areas, plain areas, and eastern regions. Mechanism analysis reveals that high-standard farmland construction mainly reduces grain harvest losses by expanding operational scale and enhancing mechanization application. Based on research findings, the Chinese government should formulate a targeted high-standard farmland construction policy, optimize the agricultural machinery operating environment, and promote appropriate operational scale to ensure national food security. Full article
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20 pages, 1306 KiB  
Article
The Impact of and Mechanism behind High-Standard Farmland Construction in Farmland Abandonment: A Moderated Mediating Analysis
by Yuhan Zhang, Xu Zhang, Wangyue Zhou, Jianfu Li, Zhenlin Weng and Xueping Gao
Land 2024, 13(6), 846; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060846 - 13 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1214
Abstract
At present, farmland abandonment (FA) is a serious problem in China, severely restricting agricultural production. In this context, it is of great significance to explore the logical relationship between high-standard farmland construction (HSFC) and FA to optimize land resource allocation and guarantee national [...] Read more.
At present, farmland abandonment (FA) is a serious problem in China, severely restricting agricultural production. In this context, it is of great significance to explore the logical relationship between high-standard farmland construction (HSFC) and FA to optimize land resource allocation and guarantee national food security. Based on a sample of 838 farmers in the main rice production area of the Yangtze River Basin in China, this study employed the Tobit model, the mediating effect model, and the moderated mediating effect model to analyze the impact of HSFC on FA at the micro level. The results show the following: (1) HSFC inhibits FA and the FA proportion decreases by 1.15% for every 1% increase in the HSFC proportion; the robustness test and endogeneity treatment also yield consistent conclusions. (2) The inhibitory effect of HSFC on FA varies greatly among different farmers and is more significant for part-time farmers and those with a higher degree of land fragmentation. (3) Agricultural socialization services (ASS) play a positive mediating role in the influence path. HSFC promotes the farmers’ purchase of ASS, which in turn inhibits FA. (4) The agricultural labor transfer distance (ALTD) plays a positive moderating role in the relationship between HSFC and FA. The farther the distance, the more likely it is that HSFC can promote the farmers’ purchase of ASS and inhibit FA. The results provide insights regarding how to precisely implement the HSFC policy, i.e., to inhibit FA by improving the construction of high-standard farmland and the post-construction management and protection system. Building targeted construction programs and operational systems that consider the differences in the target groups, improving the standard and capacity of ASS to ensure sustainable benefits for farmers, and promoting the non-agricultural transfer of surplus agricultural labor can create conditions for the modern transformation of the traditional rural economy. Full article
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