This study uses a multi-criteria optimization algorithm to identify fallow priority areas in China based on soil pollution, groundwater overexploitation, land quality, and ecological protection redlines. The analysis, considering five spatial scenarios and three objective functions, reveals that fallowing the top 20% of priority areas could achieve up to 98.7% of pollution control benefits and 64.7% of environmental protection benefits. Effective fallow prioritization could reduce implementation costs by up to 509.3 billion USD, representing 13.6% of China's 2021 budget, promoting sustainable land use and freeing up funds for other agricultural goals.

Siyan Zeng, Fu Chen, Gang-Jun Liu, Estelle Raveloaritiana, Thomas Cherico Wanger