Tsinghua University Completes the World's First 30-Meter Resolution Agricultural Land Distribution Map - Tsinghua University

**Abstract:** On July 2, 2013, the Center for Earth System Science at Tsinghua University, in collaboration with the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of California, Berkeley, unveiled a groundbreaking global agricultural land distribution map. This map, known as FROM-GC (Fine Resolution Observation of the Mosaic of Global Cropland), is the world's first of its kind to achieve a 30-meter spatial resolution, marking a significant improvement over previous maps by an order of magnitude. The project was supported by the "863 Program" of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science. The FROM-GC map integrates data from multiple sources, including the 30-meter land surface coverage mapping product developed by Tsinghua University, the 250-meter agricultural land probability product created by South Dakota State University and the University of Maryland, and the statistical database of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAOSTAT). According to the map, the global agricultural land area in 2010 was estimated to be 1,533.83 million hectares, which is approximately 6.95 million hectares less than the FAO's 2010 statistics. The discrepancies between the FROM-GC map and the FAO data were most pronounced in regions such as Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The map's accuracy is notably affected in areas with frequent cloud cover and rainfall, small plot regions (like terraced fields), and rice cultivation zones. Despite these challenges, the FROM-GC map represents a significant advancement in the field, providing a more detailed and precise understanding of global agricultural land distribution. The data from the FROM-GC map will be made freely available on the Tsinghua University Earth System Science Center's website in the near future. This database is expected to serve as a crucial resource for various research areas, including global food production planning, food security, agricultural land resource development, biodiversity conservation, water resource allocation, and biomass energy layout. The completion of this database underscores China's growing contribution to the global understanding of agricultural land use and its implications for sustainable development and environmental management. **Key Elements:** - **Date of Announcement:** July 2, 2013 - **Institutions Involved:** Tsinghua University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of California, Berkeley - **Supporting Programs:** "863 Program" of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science - **Resolution of the Map:** 30 meters - **Data Sources:** 30-meter land surface coverage mapping product (Tsinghua University), 250-meter agricultural land probability product (South Dakota State University and University of Maryland), FAOSTAT (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization) - **Global Agricultural Land Area (2010):** 1,533.83 million hectares (FROM-GC), 1,540.78 million hectares (FAO) - **Regions with Significant Discrepancies:** Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, Oceania - **Challenges in Accuracy:** Cloudy and rainy areas, small plot regions, rice cultivation zones - **Future Availability:** Free access on the Tsinghua University Earth System Science Center's website - **Implications:** Essential for global food production planning, food security, agricultural land resource development, biodiversity conservation, water resource allocation, and biomass energy layout This achievement not only enhances the precision of global agricultural land mapping but also positions China as a leader in the application of remote sensing technology for environmental and agricultural studies. The FROM-GC map is a valuable tool for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in the agricultural and environmental sectors, providing a detailed and comprehensive view of agricultural land use that can inform decisions and strategies for sustainable development.