Topic Editors

School of Economics and Management, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
Dr. Congxian He
Su Area Revitalization Research Institute, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
Dr. Changsong Wang
Department of Agronomy Economics and Information, Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchang, China

Challenges and Solutions of Sustainable Development in the Ecologically Sensitive Areas or Social Fringe Zones

Abstract submission deadline
1 September 2027
Manuscript submission deadline
31 December 2027
Viewed by
994

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Certain types of regions, such as ecologically sensitive areas and social fringe zones, are confronted with significant challenges to sustainable development, including economic underdevelopment, residents’ well-being, ecosystem threats, social inequality, and agricultural production issues. This requires the adoption of a complex system approach involving the economy, society and ecology to propose a framework, path, and plan for sustainable development. The geographical isolation, ecological sensitivity, socioeconomic constraints, infrastructure deficits, and heightened vulnerability to climate change of these areas create complex barriers to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This necessitates contributions from various disciplines of management, economics, environmental science, sociology, and more, with a focus on providing insights for specific types of regions to address sustainability challenges. Key themes include food supply, agricultural technology, ecological protection, inclusive growth, developing resilient livelihoods, and green economies. This encourages case studies that focus on spotlighting innovative, context-specific, and integrative solutions emerging within and for specific types of regions, but which must be representative and yield general insights. It also encourages empirical analysis of specific types of regions in terms of their sustainable practices, using public data and author survey data. However, bibliometric articles are not encouraged in this Topic. By bringing together interdisciplinary research based on case studies and empirical analysis, this Topic aims to advance our understanding and provide actionable pathways for building equitable, resilient, and sustainable futures in the world's most vulnerable and vital landscapes.

Dr. Huwei Wen
Dr. Congxian He
Dr. Changsong Wang
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • specific regions
  • sustainable development challenges
  • resilient livelihoods
  • food supply
  • agricultural technology
  • inclusive growth
  • green economies

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Agriculture
agriculture
3.6 6.3 2011 18 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Businesses
businesses
- - 2021 33.8 Days CHF 1000 Submit
Land
land
3.2 5.9 2012 16 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Sustainability
sustainability
3.3 7.7 2009 19.3 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Urban Science
urbansci
2.9 3.7 2017 25.5 Days CHF 1600 Submit
Earth
earth
3.4 5.9 2020 19.4 Days CHF 1400 Submit
Economies
economies
2.1 4.7 2013 22 Days CHF 1800 Submit
World
world
1.9 - 2020 28.6 Days CHF 1200 Submit

Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.

MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

  1. Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
  2. Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
  3. Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
  4. Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
  5. Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Journals
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
22 pages, 2827 KB  
Article
The Resilience Trilemma in Grain Supply Chain: Unpacking Spatiotemporal Trade-Offs Across Production–Consumption Zones from the Case of China
by Congxian He, Lulu Yu and Xiang Su
Agriculture 2025, 15(24), 2531; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15242531 - 6 Dec 2025
Viewed by 279
Abstract
This study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of China’s grain supply chain resilience and regional disparities from 2012 to 2022, employing provincial data and a multidimensional framework encompassing resistance capacity, adaptive adjustment capacity, and innovation-driven transition capacity, and utilizing entropy weight method, kernel density [...] Read more.
This study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of China’s grain supply chain resilience and regional disparities from 2012 to 2022, employing provincial data and a multidimensional framework encompassing resistance capacity, adaptive adjustment capacity, and innovation-driven transition capacity, and utilizing entropy weight method, kernel density estimation, convergence models and barrier factor analysis with GIS (v10.8,2) visualization. The results reveal a fluctuating upward trajectory in the composite resilience index. However, spatial heterogeneity persists as Major Grain-Producing Areas demonstrate high resistance capacity but lag in transformation due to path dependency, Major Grain-Consuming Areas excel in innovation yet face vulnerability from import dependence, and Grain Self-Sufficient Areas display rapid adaptive capacity growth but spatial polarization intensifies. Theil index decomposition confirmed that inter-regional disparities dominated, reflecting uneven technological diffusion and institutional priorities. Key drivers include natural endowments, infrastructure investments, and digitalization, though threshold effects in policy regulation and path dependency paradoxes constrain convergence. This study advances a dynamic governance framework to balance resilience trade-offs and align supply chain modernization with sustainable food security goals. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop