Understanding the distribution patterns and underlying mechanisms of non-grain use of cultivated land in rural China

How to control the non-grain use of cultivated land (NGUCL) for the simultaneous development of food security, rural revitalization, and ecological protection has been a major topic of global concern. However, insufficient understanding of the pattern and its underlying mechanisms has posed major challenges for related policy-making. To bridge this gap, this study established a theoretical framework for NGUCL analysis and employed quantitative methods to reveal the NGUCL pattern and its mechanisms. The key finding is that there was a core–edge model of NGUCL distribution pattern from the suburbs to the remote suburbs; this was determined by a policy–market–site coupling mechanism and non-grain market location enhanced mechanism. The foremost contribution of this study is that it presents a global understanding of the core–edge model using a coexisting pattern analysis on NGUCL from the suburbs to the remote suburbs based on our understanding of non-grain growing behaviors. To strengthen control of NGUCL, we propose implementing regionally differentiated policies for cultivated land protection together with spatial planning for crop growing. We argue that the key to policy improvement is to maximize agricultural labor productivity in accordance with market demand. The findings and suggestions of this study are significant for China and other regions to promote NGUCL control and cultivated land protection.