Hubs and instruments: exploring the mechanism of higher education institutions for realizing sustainable cultivated land value

Purpose This study aims to assess the value of cultivated land (CLV) using a more comprehensive accounting system, and on this basis, analyzes the impact characteristics of agricultural research resources (ARF) on CLV. Design/methodology/approach This study integrates methodological approaches from economics and geography to develop a more comprehensive accounting system for CLV. Furthermore, it uses econometric models and the geographically and temporally weighted regression to systematically examine the impact of ARF on CLV over the period 2012–2021. Findings Results indicate that although the total cultivated land area declined by 5.7% during the study period, overall CLV exhibited a sustained upward trajectory. Spatially, high-CLV regions remain predominantly concentrated in the Northeast, Central and Northwest areas. Empirical analysis reveals a statistically significant positive relationship between ARF investment and CLV. The study further identifies substantial spatial heterogeneity in the effects of ARF. The beneficial effect of research investment on CLV is particularly pronounced in eastern China, whereas in Xinjiang, some research investments are misaligned with local natural resource endowments and agricultural development patterns, thereby exerting a suppressive effect on CLV. Originality/value This study highlights the role of ARF in enhancing regional CLV, and incorporates a large number of geographical methods into the CLV calculation system.