Raw data for maize sustainability indicators, China, 2011–2023

This dataset contains the raw and test data used to evaluate the sustainability performance of China’s maize (corn) industry at the national level over the period 2011–2023. It supports the multi-criteria indicator framework presented in the associated paper and is composed of 13 supplementary tables (S1–S13):S1 Robustness checks for the composite sustainability indexS2–S13 Annual time-series for twelve core indicators covering four dimensions: basic sustainability (self-sufficiency, per-capita availability, inventory-to-consumption), market operation (price volatility, insurance depth), technological innovation (yield growth, approved varieties, mechanisation, total-factor productivity), and resource & environmental conditions (sown-area growth, CO₂ emissions per tonne, disaster-induced area loss)All figures are derived from official Chinese statistical sources (National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Compendium of Cost-Benefit of Agricultural Products, China Rural Statistical Yearbook, China Price Statistics Yearbook, National Agricultural Mechanisation Bulletins, China Seed Industry Big-Data Platform) and international databases (OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2024-2033). Data were extracted, deflated by CPI and compiled at national level; no personal or confidential information is included. The dataset can be reused to replicate the study or to develop updated sustainability assessments for maize or other cereal crops.