Linking land policy to food system sustainability: farm scale effects on smart irrigation adoption in northern China

Smart irrigation systems represent a critical innovation for advancing sustainable food production in water-scarce regions. As global food systems face mounting pressure from climate change and resource constraints, understanding the drivers of water-efficient technology adoption becomes essential for achieving both food security and environmental sustainability. This study investigates the adoption of smart irrigation systems among maize farmers in northern China, examining the roles of land consolidation and large-scale operation within the broader context of sustainable agricultural development. Drawing on a theoretical framework of expected profit maximization, we analyze household survey data from 803 maize farmers using drip irrigation in Inner Mongolia. Results demonstrate that both land consolidation and large-scale operation significantly promote smart irrigation adoption, though effects vary by institutional support mechanisms, regional suitability, and water resource endowment. These findings contribute to literature on sustainable food systems by revealing how land tenure arrangements and farm scale interact with resource efficiency technologies. The study has important implications for achieving integrated goals of food security, water conservation, and sustainable resource management in semi-arid agricultural regions, while providing empirical evidence for circular economy approaches in food production systems.