Sustainable Development of Marginal Lands for Food Security: Advances, Ecological Constraints, and Remediation Strategies

The growing global population and rising food demand have intensified arable land scarcity, posing serious challenges to agricultural sustainability. Marginal lands, a vast underutilized reserve of potential cropland totaling approximately 2.7 billion hectares globally, are ecologically fragile and less productive, yet hold great potential for expanding both food and energy production. This study reviews the global distribution and key characteristics of marginal land, with a focus on current sustainable utilization models. Key challenges such as soil degradation, contamination, and economic constraints are discussed. These issues can be mitigated by adopting innovative approaches, including the conversion of agricultural waste, the application of molecular breeding techniques, the deployment of smart agriculture empowered by AI-driven cultivation practices, and the use of advanced land engineering. Achieving this objective requires collaborative efforts between governments, stakeholders, and farmers. This study provides a theoretical framework and technical support for the sustainable development and use of marginal land.