Abstract
As an important interdisciplinary branch integrating geography and agricultural science, agricultural geography aims to reveal the spatial distribution patterns of agricultural systems, the mechanisms of process evolution, and the intrinsic logic of human–land relationships. With the intensification of global climate change, the advancement of rural revitalization strategies, and the rapid development of digital agriculture, research paradigms and application boundaries in this field have been continuously evolving and expanding. This paper systematically reviews the theoretical foundations and paradigm evolution of agricultural geography, with a particular focus on recent progress in key areas such as agricultural land use and spatial patterns, crop planting structure and resource adaptability, agricultural ecological risk assessment, and modeling of farmers’ spatial behavior. It further explores the profound impacts of emerging technologies, including remote sensing, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence, on paradigm shifts in agricultural geography. Against the backdrop of major practical needs such as national food security, rural revitalization, and agricultural carbon neutrality, this paper analyzes the theoretical value and practical significance of agricultural geography in serving national strategies, optimizing regional governance, and supporting high-quality agricultural development. Finally, it proposes forward-looking research topics, including climate-adaptive agricultural spatial simulation, agricultural geographical restructuring under global value chain embedding, and multi-scale coupled geographical modeling. This paper aims to provide agricultural geography researchers with a systematic disciplinary framework and references for future research pathways, promoting deeper integration and expansion in both theoretical innovation and practical applications.
