# Did the International Trade in Crops Lead to Global Cropland Saving or Wasting in the Period 2000–2022?

## TL;DR

This paper examines how international crop trade from 2000 to 2022 affected global cropland use efficiency and found it led to cropland savings and higher efficiency.

## Contribution

The study introduces a new analysis of long-term global cropland use efficiency changes due to international crop trade.

## Key findings

- Global crop trade increased by 142%, outpacing virtual cropland trade growth.
- Crop trade saved 1244.9 million hectares of cropland between 2000 and 2020.
- China is the largest virtual cropland importer, mainly due to soybean imports.

## Abstract

The international food trade is beneficial for enhancing global food security but also raises issues such as global cropland redistribution, land use efficiency, and environmental problems. While current studies have examined the impacts of the international food trade on these issues, its long-term effects on global cropland use efficiency remain unclear, especially when considering different crops and countries. Utilizing the international trade theory and the principle of virtual cropland, this study explores the relationship between international food trade and global cropland use efficiency from 2000 to 2022. The results illustrate that the global crop trade surged by 142%, outpacing the 102% increase in virtual cropland trade, which was attributed to crop yield enhancements. By 2022, the global virtual cropland trade encompassed 10.7% of the total croplands, with China emerging as the foremost importer, particularly due to soybean imports. Notably, the global crop trade led to substantial cropland savings and higher cropland use efficiency, totaling 1244.9 million hectares (Mha) between 2000 and 2020. These gains were largely attributed to the superior yields of major crop-exporting countries. Despite these gains, socio-economically vulnerable countries face significant challenges, potentially compromising their food security amidst the complexities of the global trade dynamics.