High-standard farmland construction and green grain productivity in China: evidence, pathways, and spatial implications

High-standard farmland construction (HSFC) has become an important policy instrument for improving agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable grain production in China. However, whether and through which pathways HSFC contributes to green agricultural productivity remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the relationship between HSFC and grain green total factor productivity (GGTFP) using 30 Chinese provinces over 2005–2017. The results indicate that HSFC is positively associated with GGTFP, and this relationship remains robust under alternative specifications and identification strategies. This association is partially reflected in reduced fertilizer and pesticide use intensity, suggesting an input-saving pathway. Initial irrigation conditions appear to enhance the HSFC–GGTFP relationship, with stronger associations in regions with more favorable production endowments. Spatial analysis suggests that the effects of HSFC are primarily localized, with no statistically significant evidence of spillovers to neighboring regions under the specifications examined. These findings highlight that the contribution of HSFC to green productivity is associated with resource-use efficiency, complementary production conditions, and localized implementation contexts, providing insights for more targeted farmland policy design.