High-quality Agricultural Development in Chinese Subtropical Region: Challenges and Strategies

High-quality agricultural development in China’s subtropical region is critical for national food security and ecological sustainability. This region encompasses 16 provinces covering approximately one-quarter of China’s land area and home to nearly half its population. Characterized by abundant hydrothermal resources with synchronous heat and precipitation, it serves as a traditional agricultural hub contributing 40% of grain output and over 54% of meat production of the nation. However, the region faces mounting pressures: Underutilized potential in hilly and mountainous areas, disconnected crop-livestock systems leading to resource inefficiency and pollution, and insufficient systematic research on regional agricultural development. Addressing these challenges requires an innovative agroecological framework oriented toward the “Big Food Concept,” integrating efficient resource utilization with ecological conservation. This paper examines the characteristics, challenges, and pathways for sustainable agricultural transformation in China’s subtropical region, proposing strategies for optimizing agricultural layout, promoting crop-live-stock integration, and strengthening scientific innovation platforms to build a “southern defense line” for national food security.