Imbalance of Interests Between Grain Producing and Consuming Regions and the New Mission of Urban Agriculture: A Perspective From Marxist Ground Rent Theory

Bohan Wang

doi:10.63944/mn9m.JFEMR

Imbalance of Interests Between Grain Producing and Consuming Regions and the New Mission of Urban Agriculture: A Perspective From Marxist Ground Rent Theory

Bohan Wang (Primary Contact)

School of Marxism, Jilin University, China

DOI:https://doi.org/10.63944/mn9m.JFEMR

Keywords:

benefit imbalance between production and consumptionregions, urban agriculture, absolute rent, differentialrent, monopoly rent

Published

28-11-2025

Abstract: Food security serves as a critical pillar of national security.In China’s food supply sector,phenomena such as “major grain producers but minor industrial players and fiscally constrained entities,”“economic disincentives for grain cultivation,”and “increased production not necessarily translating into higher income”reflect a fundamental imbalance in benefit distribution between production and consumption regions.This imbalance essentially stems from the contradiction between “value generated from land” and “equitable value distribution.”Using the Marxist theory of land rent as an analytical framework, this study analyzes the systematic rent drain from producing regions through a three-dimensional lens comprising absolute rent, differential rent (I & II), and monopoly rent. Guided by this perspective, and introducing the role of urban agriculture as a strategic vehicle for rebalancing, we propose an institutionalized compensation mechanism centered on urban agriculture and supported primarily by horizontal fiscal transfer payments.This approach aims to enhance new quality agricultural productivity,address the challenge of “economic disincentives for grain cultivation”,and ensure that major grain-producing regions receive fair economic returns based on land ownership and ecological contributions.By rebalancing interests between production and consumption areas,the mechanism seeks to safeguard national food security and promote urban-rural integration.It should be noted, however,that while an urban agriculture model grounded in land rent theory offers a viable pathway for mitigating regional benefit imbalances and boosting advanced agricultural productivity,it is not the sole determinant.

References

[1] Chen, M. X., & Zhang, S. J. (2023). Agricultural ecological compensation dilemmas in major grain-producing areas and pathways to solutions. Regional Economic Review, (3), 111–117.https://doi.org/10.14017/j.cnki.2095-5766.2023.0036
[2] Wu, H. Y., Meng, Y., Huang, H. J., & Chen, W. K. (2022). Spatio-temporal coupling characteristics between net carbon sink of cultivated land use and agricultural production in China. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, *36*(5), 360–368. https://doi.org/10.13870/j.cnki.stbcxb.2022.05.044
[3] Shanghai Chongming District Agriculture and Rural Affairs Commission, & Shanghai Chongming District Finance Bureau. (2024). Management Measures for Urban Modern Agriculture Development Projects and Funding in Chongming District (Document No. Hu Chong Nong Gui [2024] No. 2).
[4] Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau. (2023). Accounting scheme for the value of regulatory ecosystem services (GEP-R) in Beijing.
[5] Marx, K. (2004). Capital: A critique of political economy (Vol. 3). People's Publishing House. (Original work published 1894)
[6] Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau. (2023). Accounting scheme for the value of regulatory ecosystem services (GEP-R) in Beijing.
[7] Wang, H., Lu, L., Liu, Z., & Sun, Y. (2025). Study on measurement and prediction of agricultural product supply chain resilience based on improved EW-TOPSIS and GM (1,1)-Markov models under public emergencies. PLOS ONE, *20*(5), e0321248. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321248
[8] Zheng, X. F. (2017). Spatiotemporal deconstruction of rent and reproduction of rights. Sociological Studies, *32*(4), 85–112. https://doi.org/10.19934/j.cnki.shxyj.2017.04.004
[9] Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PRC. (2019). Typical cases of rural collective economies.
[10] Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau. (2023). Accounting scheme for the value of regulatory ecosystem services (GEP-R) in Beijing.
[11] Zheng, X. F. (2017). Spatiotemporal deconstruction of rent and reproduction of rights. Sociological Studies, *32*(4), 85–112.https://doi.org/10.19934/j.cnki.shxyj.2017.04.004
[12] Marx, K. (2004). Capital: A critique of political economy (Vol. 3). People's Publishing House. (Original work published 1894)
[13] Jiangsu Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. (2024). Innovative practice report on large-scale land management in Jiangyan District .
[14] Liu, Y. L., & Hu, P. (2009). Ecological compensation standards in the Xin'an River Basin based on Pareto optimality. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, *40*(6), 703–708. https://doi.org/10.13243/j.cnki.slxb.2009.06.005
[15] Dai, J., Hu, S., Zhang, B., & Yang, Q. (2021). Study on ecological compensation standards based on opportunity cost and ecosystem service value accounting: A case study of the Xin'an River Basin. HuBei Agricultural Sciences, *60*(21), 5–24. https://doi.org/10.14088/j.cnki.issn0439-8114.2021.21.033
[16] Ren, Y., Lu, L., Yu, H., & Zhu, D. (2023). Study on the ecological compensation mechanism in the Xin'an River Basin from the perspective of politics of scale. China Financial & Economic Publishing House.
[17] Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China. (2012). Implementation plan for pilot compensation for water environment in the Xin'an River Basin.
[18] People's Government of Zhejiang Province, & People's Government of Anhui Province. (2017). Supplementary agreement on upstream-downstream horizontal ecological compensation in the Xin'an River Basin.
[19] Marx, K. (2004). Capital: A critique of political economy (Vol. 3). People's Publishing House. (Original work published 1894)

Imbalance of Interests Between Grain Producing and Consuming Regions and the New Mission of Urban Agriculture: A Perspective From Marxist Ground Rent Theory

How to Cite