Core Insights - The importance of arable land as a fundamental resource for national food security is increasingly prominent, with limited total arable land resources in China and significant issues related to land degradation [1][2] Group 1: Current State of Arable Land - China's total arable land is stable at 1.8 billion acres, with over 1 billion acres of high-standard farmland established, maintaining a grain output of over 1 trillion jin [1] - The average quality of arable land is low, with an average grade of only 4.76, and 22% of the land classified as low-grade (grades 7 to 10), totaling over 40 million acres [1] - Issues such as land degradation in fragile ecological areas and rapid quality decline in intensively used agricultural regions directly impact the scale and quality of grain production [1] Group 2: Challenges in Arable Land Management - A significant bottleneck in improving arable land quality is the lack of backup resources, with a reduction of nearly 30 million acres compared to the last survey [2] - The phenomenon of "occupying the superior and compensating the inferior" in land compensation leads to quality imbalances, with some regions resorting to environmentally damaging practices [2] - Soil pollution is a critical issue, with approximately 20 million hectares of farmland contaminated by heavy metals, and excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers contributing to soil degradation [2] Group 3: Strategies for Improvement - To protect arable land, it is essential to implement a strict protection system while enhancing land quality through systematic governance and comprehensive measures [3] - The approach should include preventive measures, combining engineering, biological, and agronomic strategies, and encouraging scientific crop rotation and fallow practices [3] - Strengthening technological innovation and establishing a collaborative system among research institutions, universities, and agricultural producers is crucial for improving land conservation and productivity [4] Group 4: Sustainable Utilization Mechanisms - Establishing a long-term mechanism for sustainable land use is vital, balancing economic development with land protection [4] - The relationship between land protection and agricultural production, particularly food production, presents significant challenges that require innovative institutional mechanisms to mobilize all stakeholders [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of land conservation, particularly arable land, in ensuring national food security, highlighting the need for a robust system to protect and utilize land efficiently [1][2]. Group 1: Current Status of Arable Land - As of 2023, China's arable land area is reported to be 1.929 billion acres, with a shift from a trend of "decrease in the south and increase in the north" to "increase in both south and north," resulting in a net increase of 2.105 million acres in southern regions [1]. - The area of sloped arable land (over 25 degrees) has decreased by 1.3219 million acres, while flat arable land (under 2 degrees) has increased by 7.147 million acres [1]. Group 2: Challenges in Arable Land Protection - The country still faces challenges such as low per capita arable land, poor quality of arable land, and insufficient backup resources, with issues of "non-agriculturalization" and "non-grainization" of arable land remaining prominent [2]. - Problems like farmland abandonment, soil erosion, groundwater over-extraction, soil degradation, and increased agricultural pollution are prevalent, indicating that the foundation for protecting arable land is not solid [2]. Group 3: Policy and Institutional Framework - There is a need to enhance the arable land protection system, focusing on quantity, quality, and ecological balance, with responsibilities clearly defined for provincial and local governments [3]. - The "National Land Spatial Planning Outline (2021-2035)" has been completed, setting clear tasks for the protection of arable land and permanent basic farmland [3]. Group 4: Strategies for Improvement - The article suggests reforms in the balance of arable land occupation and compensation, integrating various land use activities into a unified management system [3]. - Efforts are being made to improve arable land quality, with plans to convert all permanent basic farmland into high-standard farmland and establish a management mechanism to optimize land layout [3]. Group 5: Economic Incentives - To combat the issues of "non-agriculturalization" and "non-grainization," it is crucial to enhance the income security mechanism for grain farmers and promote modern, intensive agricultural practices [4]. - Establishing a compensation mechanism for major grain-producing areas is essential to create a collaborative effort in arable land protection [4].