From Plate to Plow: How Dietary Shifts Drive Telecoupled Cropland Erosion in China

ABSTRACT Cropland soil erosion poses a significant environmental challenge globally, affecting efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. While dietary transitions are recognized for their wide‐ranging environmental effects, their specific impact on soil erosion has received limited attention. To explore this relationship, this study combined a revised universal soil loss equation with a high‐sector‐resolution multi‐regional input–output model. This methodology allowed them to assess soil erosion in China's croplands from both production and consumption perspectives, focusing on the influence of dietary changes. The analysis indicates that production‐based soil erosion in China reaches 1787 million tons (Mt). Staple crops, such as rice and wheat, account for more than 48% of this total. From a consumption standpoint, soil erosion amounts to 1615 Mt, revealing clear regional differences. For instance, five southwestern provinces together contribute 37% of the national total. Additionally, indirect and induced sectoral consumption—factors often ignored in traditional studies—drive 43% of the erosion, emphasizing the importance of considering supply chain effects. The study also highlights spatial patterns: the intensity of telecoupling (long‐distance connections between production and consumption) does not align with the absolute levels of erosion, pointing to intricate supply–demand relationships across regions. Demographic factors and dietary habits further complicate the picture. Population size strongly influences the scale of erosion, while shifts in dietary preferences increase erosion by 36%, driven by higher demand for resource‐intensive foods like potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. As a result, these food categories emerge as the leading contributors to cropland soil erosion in China. These findings emphasize the need for coordinated governance that addresses both local and telecoupled drivers of soil erosion. This study suggests implementing spatially tailored dietary regulations, supported by region‐specific agricultural practices and trade policies, to reduce erosion risks effectively. By adopting such measures, policymakers can better align food consumption patterns with sustainable land management goals.