Addressing China’s grand challenge of achieving food security while ensuring environmental sustainability

Abstract

China’s increasingly urbanized and wealthy population is driving a growing and changing demand for food, which might not be met without significant increase in agricultural productivity and sustainable use of natural resources. Given the past relationship between lack of access to affordable food and political instability, food security has to be given a high priority on national political agendas in the context of globalization. The drive for increased food production has had a significant impact on the environment, and the deterioration in ecosystem quality due to historic and current levels of pollution will potentially compromise the food production system in China. We discuss the grand challenges of not only producing more food but also producing it sustainably and without environmental degradation. In addressing these challenges, food production should be considered as part of an environmental system (soil, air, water, and biodiversity) and not independent from it. It is imperative that new ways of meeting the demand for food are developed while safeguarding the natural resources upon which food production is based. We present a holistic approach to both science and policy to ensure future food security while embracing the ambition of achieving environmental sustainability in China. It is a unique opportunity for China to be a role model as a new global player, especially for other emerging economies.

Analysis Framework of China’s Grain Production System: A Spatial Resilience Perspective

“…In addition, grain production activities cannot be separated from the local eco-environment, and the impact of the grain production process on the value of local ecosystem services is also noticeable [42,47]. Apparently, the economic, social, and ecological attributes of the GPS are closely related.…”

“…To better guide the grain production while coordinating the dilemma in the process of grain production transformation, this paper introduces the concept of the GPS. Here, the GPS is defined as a dynamic and sustainable complex system [42], supported by the eco-environment and the prevailing socio-economic conditions. This complex system ensures regional food security [43], provides smallholder livelihood security [41], and coordinates the urban-rural transformation as well as other basic functions [44].…”

“…All of these achievements will contribute to research on grain production resilience. From the aforementioned analysis, we can draw the conclusion that China's grain production conditions offer profound potential for both transformation and crisis whether analyzed from the perspective of a comparison between the domestic and international environments, the transition and evolution patterns of inner key elements [11,42], or the opinion divergence regarding the future mode of development of China's grain production modes between different scholars. Both opportunities and challenges of the required grain production transformation create appropriate conditions for the optimization of China's grain production pattern.…”

China’s 40 years of agricultural development and reform

“…Research shows groundwater in northern China is being overdrawn and the water table is falling (MWR 2016). Soil degradation is being observed in many regions (Liu et al 2013;Zhang et al 2013;Lu et al 2015) and excessive use of chemicals has caused serious pollution and soil degradation (Liu et al 2013). …”

“…Food production has risen at the expense of the environment, creating tremendous challenges to achieving sustainable rural development Lu et al 2015). Rising wages have increased the cost of food production and lowered China's agricultural competitiveness in global markets, while concerns about national food security are as high as ever (Huang 2013a;Han 2014).…”