Climate change in China may shift crop mix, impacting food security.
Climate change affects what crops farmers grow in different regions of China. A study looked at data from 2000 to 2013 and found that winter temperature is more important than growing season temperature in determining crop mix. Regions with higher farming values grow more vegetables and orchards. As temperatures rise, traditional crops like grains and soybeans may decrease, while tubers, small oil crops, vegetables, and orchards may increase. However, vegetables and orchards may not fully replace traditional crops due to cost and land use intensity.