The impact of urbanization on food security in China

Against the background of urbanization's rapid development in China from 1984 to 2020, this research evaluates the mechanisms of its impact and food security by constructing a comprehensive evaluation index system for regional food security and verifying urbanization's spatial spillover effect on such security. We present the following findings. (1) A greater level of urbanization has a clear spatial effect on improving the level of food security in China. (2) Urbanization development plays a vital role in advancing local food security and at the same time has a greater negative impact on expanding surrounding food security. (3) The spatial spillover effects of urbanization on food security vary greatly, often according to different levels of regional economic development and natural geographic settings. This paper offers recommendations for controlling regional urbanization development, improving the radiation -driven role of urbanization, and implementing differentiated regional policies.