Summary
This paper establishes a food–energy–water–carbon (FEWC) measurement framework to assess trade-offs and synergies within Chinese crop production systems. Using carbon footprint analysis and energy decomposition methods across five crops over 2000–2022, the authors document significant fluctuations in sectoral emissions: notably declining food-system footprints, substantially increasing food–energy impacts, and fluctuating food–water footprints. The analysis reveals spatial efficiency improvements and a slight net mitigating effect from FEW nexus interactions on overall greenhouse gas emissions.
UK applicability
Whilst the specific findings are contextualised to China's geography and cropping patterns, the FEWC measurement methodology and decomposition approach may inform UK efforts to characterise resource-intensity trade-offs in crop production. However, China's spatial structure, energy mix, and water availability differ substantially from UK conditions, limiting direct applicability of provincial conclusions.
Key measures
Greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint); blue water consumption; energy consumption; logarithmic mean divisia index decomposition; spatial distribution indices along Hu Huanyong Line and Botai Line
Outcomes reported
The study quantified greenhouse gas emissions and trade-offs across food–energy–water systems in Chinese crop production from 2000–2022, revealing temporal and spatial patterns in carbon footprints and efficiency gains. Five crops were analysed to inform optimisation of cropping structure and resource use.
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