Comparative assessment of sustainable agricultural development in Russia and China under climate and resource constraints

Sustainable agricultural development in large continental economies depends on the ability to preserve productivity while adapting to climate stress, resource scarcity and environmental limits. This article compares the trajectories of sustainable agricultural development in Russia and China under conditions of climatic variability, land pressure, water constraints and decarbonization imperatives. The analysis combines national and provincial statistical indicators, comparative policy assessment and a composite framework covering productivity, resource efficiency, environmental pressure and adaptive capacity. Results show that China demonstrates stronger progress in digital agriculture, irrigation management and coordinated green policy implementation, while Russia retains advantages in land availability, lower average cropping pressure and opportunities for climate-driven expansion in selected zones. At the same time, both countries face structural sustainability constraints linked to regional inequality, soil degradation risks and carbon intensity of agricultural production. The study concludes that sustainable agricultural development requires differentiated territorial strategies rather than uniform national models, with stronger emphasis on water governance, low-carbon technologies and adaptive institutional support.