Fast urbanization has catalyzed a rapid contraction of China’s agricultural sector. There are concerns that China will not be able to produce enough food to feed its residents, who comprise 20 per cent of the global population. The amount of land dedicated to grain in China has dropped by 15 per cent since 1998. In two new reports, Chinese scientists contend that the Government-instigated shift away from growing rice has eroded soil and water quality and fostered fungal epidemics. Acid levels in fields converted from rice to fruit and vegetables have jumped dramatically.
