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Interactions between soil quality and climate change may influence the capacity of croplands to produce sufficient food. Here, we address this issue by using a new dataset of soil, climate and associated yield observations for 12,115 site-years representing 90% of total cereal production in China. Across crops and environmental conditions, we show that high-quality soils reduced the sensitivity of crop yield to climate variability leading to both higher mean crop yield (10.3 ± 6.7%) and higher yield stability (decreasing variability by 15.6 ± 14.4%). High-quality soils improve the outcome for yields under climate change by 1.7% (0.5–4.0%), compared to low-quality soils. Climate-driven yield change could result in reductions of national cereal production of 11.4 Mt annually under representative concentration pathway RCP 8.5 by 2080–2099. While this production reduction was exacerbated by 14% due to soil degradation, it can be reduced by 21% through soil improvement. This study emphasizes the vital role of soil quality in agriculture under climate change.Food demand is increasing, while climate change is impacting the magnitude and stability of crop yields. High-quality soils are able to buffer the negative impacts of climate change and lead to smaller yield reduction and higher yield stability, indicating a potential adaptation strategy.

Until the past half-century, all agriculture and land management was framed by local institutions strong in social capital. But neoliberal forms of development came to undermine existing structures, thus reducing sustainability and equity. The past 20 years, though, have seen the deliberate establishment of more than 8 million new social groups across the world. This restructuring and growth of rural social capital within specific territories is leading to increased productivity of agricultural and land management systems, with particular benefits for those previously excluded. Further growth would occur with more national and regional policy support. For agriculture and land management to improve natural capital over whole landscapes, social cooperation has long been required. The political economy of the later twentieth and early twenty-first centuries prioritized unfettered individual action over the collective, and many rural institutions were harmed or destroyed. Since then, a wide range of social movements, networks and federations have emerged to support transitions towards sustainability and equity. Here, we focus on social capital manifested as intentionally formed collaborative groups within specific geographic territories. These groups focus on: (1) integrated pest management; (2) forests; (3) land; (4) water; (5) pastures; (6) support services; (7) innovation platforms; and (8) small-scale systems. We show across 122 initiatives in 55 countries that the number of groups has grown from 0.50 million (in 2000) to 8.54 million (in 2020). The area of land transformed by the 170–255 million group members is 300 Mha, mostly in less-developed countries (98% groups; 94% area). Farmers and land managers working with scientists and extensionists in these groups have improved both environmental outcomes and agricultural productivity. In some cases, changes to national or regional policy supported this growth in groups. Together with other movements, these social groups could now support further transitions towards policies and behaviours for global sustainability. Millions of geographically based new social groups are leading to more sustainable agriculture and forestry worldwide.

As the demand for livestock products continues to increase in China, so too does the challenge of managing increasing quantities of manure. Urgent action is needed to control point source (housing, storage and processing) and diffuse (field application) pollution and improve the utilization of manure nutrients and organic matter. Here, we review strategies to improve management at each stage of the manure management chain and at different scales. Many strategies require infrastructure investment, e.g., for containment of all manure fractions. Engineering solutions are needed to develop advanced composting systems with lower environmental footprints and design more efficient nutrient stripping technologies. At the field-scale, there is an urgent need to develop a manure nutrient recommendation system that accounts for the range of manure types, cropping systems, soils and climates throughout China. At the regional scale, coordinated planning is necessary to promote recoupling of livestock and cropping systems, and reduce nutrient accumulation in regions with little available landbank, while minimizing the risk of pollution swapping from one region to another. A range of stakeholders are needed to support the step change and innovation required to improve manure management, reduce reliance on inorganic fertilizers, and generate new business opportunities.

This paper has three aims. First, to examine how the negative environmental consequences of intensive agriculture have driven China and the UK to shift away from narrowly focused farm output policies and adopt more holistic green development pathways. Second, to explore the policy objectives they have in common. Third, to assess the numerous opportunities for joint research and knowledge sharing through the Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network and other existing institutional mechanisms. The intensification of agricultural production in the UK started several decades earlier than in China as did the negative environmental consequences of the farm practices. However, their strategies and policies for sustainable intensification and green development have much in common. These are set out in two main documents: the Chinese State Council guidelines for green agriculture and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 25 Year Environment Plan. There are substantial mutual advantages from greater collaboration on problem identification and monitoring; the development of appropriate technological and management responses and the formulation of sound policies. To achieve this potential, it is recommended that further thought be given to how best to bring together all of the key stakeholders along the whole food chain.

Virtual joint centers on N agronomy were established between UK and China. Key themes were improving NUE for fertilizers, utilizing livestock manures, and soil health. Improved management practices and technologies were identified and assessed. Fertilizer emissions and improved manure management are key targets for mitigation. Two virtual joint centers for nitrogen agronomy were established between the UK and China to facilitate collaborative research aimed at improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agricultural production systems and reducing losses of reactive N to the environment. Major focus areas were improving fertilizer NUE, use of livestock manures, soil health, and policy development and knowledge exchange. Improvements to fertilizer NUE included attention to application rate in the context of yield potential and economic considerations and the potential of improved practices including enhanced efficiency fertilizers, plastic film mulching and cropping design. Improved utilization of livestock manures requires knowledge of the available nutrient content, appropriate manure processing technologies and integrated nutrient management practices. Soil carbon, acidification and biodiversity were considered as important aspects of soil health. Both centers identified a range of potential actions that could be taken to improve N management, and the research conducted has highlighted the importance of developing a systems-level approach to assessing improvement in the overall efficiency of N management and avoiding unintended secondary effects from individual interventions. Within this context, the management of fertilizer emissions and livestock manure at the farm and regional scales appear to be particularly important targets for mitigation.

China has drawn up plans to move to a low-carbon growth path as part of its contribution to global climate change mitigation. It aims to decrease national carbon intensity (the ratio of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per unit of economic activity measured as gross domestic product (GDP)) in 2020 to 40-45% of its 2005 value largely by increasing energy efficiency in the industry and transport sectors. At present agriculture is not a formal part of the low-carbon plans in spite of the research findings presented in this chapter, which indicate that in 2007 agriculture and the agrochemical industry accounted for over 10% of China's total fossil energy use, and 19-22% of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Moreover, most of the measures to mitigate agricultural greenhouse gases (GHGs) have low or negative costs because of the high economic and environmental benefits they provide whereas carbon abatement costs in most other sectors of the economy are up to US$100 per tonne of carbon eliminated (McKinsey 2009). Some of the measures will also increase carbon sequestration but the net contribution is likely to be modest (see next section).

In many respects the development of agriculture in China over the last 50 years is an outstanding success story. In China 22% of the world's current population are fed from only 7% of the world's agricultural land. From 1995 to 2005, the total number of undernourished people in the world increased by 48 million, while in China, it decreased by 16 million (FAO 2009). Per capita availability of grain in China increased from 326 kg in 1980 to 399 kg in 2008, meat from 9 kg to 42 kg, while total population increased from 987 million to 1.33 billion in the same period (NBSC 2009).

Insomnia burdens patients with breast cancer, exceeding its prevalence in other malignancies. While excessive screen time is known to disrupt sleep in children and adolescents, its impact on patients with breast cancer remains underexplored, particularly regarding how perceived stigma may modify screen-related sleep disruption. This study aimed to investigate the associations between both objectively measured total daily screen time and self-reported presleep screen time and insomnia in patients with breast cancer while assessing the effect measure modification by perceived stigma. This cross-sectional study recruited 778 patients with breast cancer from the Department of Breast Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, between August 1, 2023, and February 20, 2024. Total daily and presleep screen time were assessed as exposures, whereas insomnia, diagnosed using a standardized clinical assessment based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria, served as the main outcome. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% CIs for the associations between screen time and insomnia using hierarchical adjustment across 3 models. Of the 240 participants with complete data on total daily screen time (mean age 51.82, SD 10.62 years), 186 (77.5%) were diagnosed with insomnia. Of the 644 participants with data on presleep screen time (mean age 53.46, SD 10.76 years), 419 (65.1%) met the criteria for insomnia. The median total daily screen time was 334.00 (IQR 232.50-440.25) minutes, whereas the median presleep screen time was 30.00 (IQR 10.00-120.00) minutes. Each 30-minute increase in total daily and presleep screen time was associated with higher odds of insomnia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.23, and aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.26-1.57, respectively). High exposure was associated with 2.46-fold (more than the median [334 minutes per day]) and 3.22-fold (more than the median [30 minutes]) higher odds of insomnia. Stratified by perceived stigma, participants with both high daily screen time and high stigma had the highest odds of insomnia (aOR 4.53, 95% CI 1.42-14.49). A similar pattern was observed for high presleep screen time and high stigma (aOR 2.59, 95% CI 1.54-4.37). However, effect measure modification was not significant on either the multiplicative or additive scale. This cross-sectional study revealed associations between screen time exposure and insomnia in patients with breast cancer, with more consistent findings for presleep screen time. Findings for total daily screen time should be interpreted cautiously because of extensive missing objective screen time data. These findings support further longitudinal studies and suggest that reducing presleep screen exposure may be considered in supportive oncology care.

Introduction This study protocol specifies the primary research line and theoretical framework of the 2023 Survey of the Psychology and Behavior of the Chinese Population. It aims to establish a consistent database of Chinese residents' psychological and behavioral surveys through multi‐center and large‐sample cross‐sectional surveys to provide robust data support for developing research in related fields. It will track the public's physical and psychological health more comprehensively and systematically. Methods The study was conducted from June 20, 2023 to August 31, 2023, using stratified and quota sampling methods. A total of 150 cities across 800 communities/villages were surveyed, selected from China (Despite extensive coordination, we have been unable to contact our counterparts in the Taiwan region of China to obtain relevant statistical data). The questionnaires were distributed to the public one‐on‐one and face‐to‐face by trained surveyors. The questionnaires included basic information about the individual, personal health status, basic information about the family, the social environment in which the individual lives, psychological condition scales, behavioral level scales, other scales, and attitudes towards topical social issues. Supervisors conducted quality control during the distribution process and returned questionnaires, logically checked and cleaned for data analysis. Discussion Data collection has been finished, and scientific outputs based on this data will support the development of health promotion strategies in China and globally. In the aftermath of the pandemic, it will guide policymakers and healthcare organizations to improve their existing policies and services to maximize the physical and mental health of the Chinese population. Trial Registration This study was filed in the National Health Security Information Platform (Record No.: MR‐37‐23‐017876) and officially registered in the China Clinical Trials Registry (Registration No.: ChiCTR2300072573).

Background Previous research has shown that electroacupuncture therapy has a potential therapeutic effect for simple female stress urinary incontinence. In this study, pelvic floor muscle training, the first-line treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women based on meta-analysis of numerous randomized control trials and recommended by international clinical practice, is used as a control group to demonstrate whether electroacupuncture therapy is a better method for female stress urinary incontinence. Methods/design A randomized controlled trial has been designed to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of electroacupuncture for female stress urinary incontinence compared with pelvic floor muscle training. The safety of electroacupuncture and patient compliance will also be evaluated. Untoward reaction to the electroacupuncture, including a broken needle, fainting on acupuncture, or pain during acupuncture, will be recorded and the therapy will be stopped if an untoward reaction occurs. After we have received full ethical approval and patient consent, participants will be randomized to receive a series of 24 electroacupuncture or pelvic floor muscle training interventions. The frequency and amount of leakage will be measured as the primary outcome parameters. Secondary outcome parameters include the 1-hour pad test, the short-form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, patient subjective effectiveness evaluation, weekly usage of pad, and usage of specialty therapy for female stress urinary incontinence. Discussion This trial will help to determine whether electroacupuncture is a more effective treatment than pelvic floor muscle training for patients with female stress urinary incontinence. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01940432 (12 September 2013).