Core Viewpoint - The importance of arable land as a fundamental resource for national food security is increasingly prominent, with challenges such as limited total arable land, low per capita arable land, and significant land degradation issues due to natural and human activities [1][2]. Group 1: Current State of Arable Land - China's total arable land is strictly protected, maintaining a red line of 1.8 billion acres, with over 1 billion acres of high-standard farmland established, resulting in stable grain production exceeding 1 trillion jin [1]. - The average quality of arable land is low, with an average grade of only 4.76, and 22% of arable land classified as low quality (grades 7 to 10), amounting to 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 - The lack of backup resources is a significant bottleneck for balancing land occupation and compensation, with a reduction of nearly 30 million acres in backup resources compared to the last survey [2]. - Soil pollution is a critical issue, with approximately 20 million hectares of farmland contaminated by heavy metals, and overuse of pesticides and fertilizers leading to new types of pollutants [2]. - The ecological degradation of arable land is exacerbated by wind erosion, desertification, and soil erosion, which further complicates the management of arable land [2]. Group 3: Strategies for Improvement - To strengthen food security, it is essential to protect arable land while enhancing its quality through systematic governance and comprehensive measures [3]. - A focus on technological innovation is necessary to alleviate the human-land conflict and improve the efficient and intensive use of arable land, integrating various stakeholders in the innovation process [4]. - Establishing a long-term mechanism for sustainable use of arable land is crucial, balancing economic development with land protection and addressing the interests of local governments, farmers, and agricultural producers [4].

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].