Recently, the Innovation Team of Smart Agriculture of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) has made significant progress in sustainable agricultural development. The team has identified feasible solutions that can effectively increase food production at a low cost, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainable agricultural development. The relevant findings were recently published in the international journal "Resource Conservation and Recycling".

In recent years, China has continuously increased its investment in technology and management to promote sustainable agricultural development. This endeavor requires substantial funding and long-term regulatory maintenance, with the related outcomes facing various uncertainties.

Dr. Sun Jing, the lead author of the paper and a researcher at the IARRP, explained that this study employed a comprehensive framework to evaluate China's self-sufficiency rate and supply rate of grain production (including soybean imports), as well as the corresponding carbon, water footprint, and other environmental costs. The study also systematically assessed the uncertainties of grain production and environmental costs among different operators (farmers, State-owned farms) and at different scales of cultivation.

By delving into the differences and uncertainties of grain production and environmental costs, the research team proposed optimal solutions or combinations for different operators in various scenarios. These combinations can reduce carbon and water footprints and economic costs. Dr. Sun mentioned that they achieved an increase in food self-sufficiency from 92% to 119%, and a rise in the supply rate from 95% to 123%. Additionally, there was a 28% reduction in carbon footprint, a 20% reduction in water footprint, and a 21% decrease in environmental economic costs (approximately $1.6 billion). As a result, the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranking improved from 57th globally to 49th. Furthermore, Dr. Sun emphasized that other scenarios, such as cultivation scale and trade disputes, have varying degrees of impact on grain production and environmental costs.

Dr. Wu Wenbin, a co-author of the paper and a researcher at the IARRP, stated that the methods and measures identified in this study are based on the reasonable utilization of existing differences and uncertainties in grain production and trade. These practical and cost-effective approaches can serve as important complements to current technological and management methods, collectively advancing sustainable agricultural development in China.