Regional differences, spatial temporal evolution and dynamic evolution of food security in China.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Food Security Studies
• Spatial Analysis

Background:

• Food security is critical for national security and requires robust assessment systems.
• Enhancing China's food security governance capacity is a key modernization goal.
• Theoretical frameworks for food security assessment and research expansion are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a scientific food security assessment system for China.
• To analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics and regional disparities in China's food security.
• To provide insights for improving China's food security mechanisms and global references.

Main Methods:

• Entropy Weight TOPSIS model for measuring food security levels (2011-2021).
• Standard Deviation Ellipse, Moran's index, and Dagum Gini coefficient for spatial analysis.
• Markov Chain model to analyze the dynamic evolution of food security.

Main Results:

• Food security scores exhibited fluctuation, balance, and growth stages from 2011-2021.
• Spatial distribution shifted northeast to southwest, showing spatial autocorrelation.
• Regional disparities, driven by production-sales imbalances, were the primary source of inequality.

Conclusions:

• China's food security level demonstrates spatial self-strengthening and spillover effects.
• The spatial pattern expanded along the 'Northeast-Southwest' axis, with increasing differentiation.
• Improved regional coordination mechanisms are essential to address disparities, particularly the lack of policy compensation and market mechanisms.