Agricultural land protection in China: current status and historical background

Agriculture has always been central to China's cultural and economic development. The traditional calendar used in China to this day tells villagers the best time to sow and harvest, further confirming the importance of agriculture in everyday life. Land has always been the backbone of the agricultural sector, which in turn is the cornerstone of China's economy. Over the years, they have ensured national food security and provided livelihoods for large populations. Although the total amount of agricultural land in China is the third largest in the world, for a large area of land, only 0.106 hectares per capita is accounted for, which is far below the world average. Given the pressures of shrinking agricultural land due to economic development, rapid population growth, and urban growth, the Chinese government has developed a series of measures to protect agricultural land and ensure food security. This article is aimed at a detailed analysis of the evolution of agricultural land protection policy in China, an attempt to analyze the reasons for policy change, the measures introduced and their effectiveness. It will also provide experience and inspiration for solving issues related to land resources in Ukraine and can become the basis for cooperation between China and Ukraine in the field of agriculture to jointly address the global challenges of food security. Keywords: Cultivated land conservation, Land policy, Land management, Remote sensing applications