Water–Land–Food Nexus for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Main Grain-Producing Areas of North China Plain

Abstract

Stable and sustainable food production is an important guarantee for national security and social stability. The uneven distribution of cultivated land and water resources will threaten national food security. In this study, we adopt the Gini coefficient and water–land matching coefficient for exploring the water–land nexus in the main grain-producing areas of North China Plain (NCP) from 2000 to 2020. The water–land–food nexus considering grain crop production structure is further explored from spatial and temporal multi-scales. The results show the following: (1) The Gini coefficient presents an increasing trend in the NCP, indicating an increasing imbalance in the water–land matching degree among inter-regions. (2) There are significant differences in the WL nexus and WLF nexus among regions, showing a spatial pattern of “worse in the north and better in the south”. (3) The cities which belonged to the low WL-low WLF and high WL-low WLF should be considered as key targets when formulating policies. (4) Adjusting the wheat–maize biannual system, optimizing the grain cultivation structure, promoting semi-dryland farming, and developing low water-consuming and high-yielding crop varieties are essential measures for these regions. The research results provide significant reference for the optimal management and sustainable agricultural development of agricultural land and water resources in NCP.

Research on influencing factors of cultivated land productivity of high-standard farmland projects in Hanzhong city of China – an empirical study based on PLS-SEM

“…Farmland water conservancy has a very significant positive impact on cultivated land productivity and soil nutrients, and the path coefficients are 0.264 and 0.197, respectively, and the total effect is 0.552, indicating that farmland water conservancy construction is an important guarantee for food security, which is consistent with the research of Lu H. et al (2019) and Zhu et al (2023). The situation of farmland water conservancy is mainly determined by irrigation and drainage conditions.…”

A Needs Assessment to Inform Research and Outreach Efforts for Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Food Production in the Western United States

“…Although the importance of sustainable agricultural production is well established (e.g., [ 3 , 7 ]), there is limited empirical research that has assessed the needs associated with sustainable practices, nor the barriers to adopting such practices. The current study addresses this gap and provides empirical data to indicate which areas are most in need of additional investigation, and which areas are perceived to be of lower need.…”

“…The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices to ensure adequate food production while reducing its environmental impact is paramount in a world increasingly focused on feeding a growing population and the water–food–land nexus [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Sustainable agricultural practices have been touted as a solution for minimizing the negative impacts of some conventional agricultural practices [ 4 ] as well as a component of achieving the United Nations’ (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [ 5 ].…”

“…In fact, recent work has highlighted the central role of the food system in achieving the SDGs globally [ 6 ]. Minimizing negative impacts from agriculture is essential for sustainable development as the food system not only influences the livelihoods of individuals, but also impacts the global environment, politics, and economies [ 1 , 3 ]. The agriculture industry has been called to intensify sustainable production to feed a growing population while minimizing its environmental impact [ 2 ] to meet SDG 2, which focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture [ 7 ].…”

Spatial–Temporal Evolution of the Coupling Coordination Degree between Water and Land Resources Matching and Cultivated Land Use Eco-Efficiency: A Case Study of the Major Grain-Producing Areas in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

“…These areas have abundant agricultural resources, and its total grain production output accounts for approximately 1 / 5 of the total grain output in China, making an important contribution to China's food security. Grain production is inseparable from the support of water and land resources, and the WLRM is related to food security [2] and the sustainable use of cultivated land. If water Land 2023, 12, 982 2 of 18 and land resources are mismatched, then farmers will increase the application of pesticides and fertilizers to ensure soil fertility and healthy crop growth, thereby ensuring grain production [3].…”