Perspective

Safeguarding the “Black Soil Granary”: Innovations in Soil Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture

^a Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130102, China
^b Bureau of Sustainable Development Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
^c Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences

^* Corresponding author. Email: jiangm@iga.ac.cn (JIANG M.); jbzhang@issas.ac.cn (ZHANG J.)

Abstract

The black soil of northeast China is a “ballast stone” of the nation’s food security and a crucial asset for regional ecological stability. However, it faces severe degradation due to long-term, high-intensity cultivation and soil erosion. To address this issue, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the three northeastern provinces and Inner Mongolia, launched the “Black Soil Granary” campaign in March 2021. This initiative has achieved phased progress in basic theoretical research, key technology development, equipment fabrication, and technology demonstration. As the campaign continues, innovative technologies, including region-specific models for controlling black soil degradation, methods to enhance both soil health and productivity, and breakthroughs in smart agriculture, are playing a key role in protecting and sustainably utilizing black soils, thus providing strong scientific support for national food security.