The coupling and coordination between food production security and agricultural ecological protection in main food-producing areas of China

Food production security (FPS) and agricultural ecological protection (AEP) are both among the paramount issues affecting the country. There are multiple nonlinear interactions between the two systems, while fewer studies have focused on the interaction patterns between them. To realize China's national strategic goals of food security and ecological protection, the interaction between FPS and AEP needs to be analyzed. Based on the evaluation index system of the coupling and coordination between the two systems, this article analyzes the spatio-temporal differentiation and influencing factors in 13 main food-producing regions in China from 2009 to 2021 using the state-space method and spatial econometric model. The following three conclusions were found: First, the overall development levels of both FPS and AEP show an increasing trend, but regional differences are obvious. Second, the coupling coordination degree and stage of the two systems present an upward trend, but the overall development level remains low, with obvious regional differences: Liaoning is still on the imminent disorder stage, while Heilongjiang has taken the lead into the intermediate coordination stage. Third, the total power of grain machinery and the soybean corn planting ratio have a significant positive impact on the coupling and coordination between FPS and AEP. The results make up for the lack of research on coupling and coordination between FPS and AEP, and provide a feasible development path for exploring coordinated development of FPS and AEP in China's main food-producing areas.