China's future food demand projection based on province-specific diets and shared socioeconomic pathways

Building on the vast heterogeneity in dietary practices and population size across China, which contributed to profound regional disparities in food demand, we incorporated regional dietary preferences and energy needs across different age groups, genders, and residential statuses to estimate future regional dietary patterns and project raw grain demand for 13 major foods (rice, wheat, maize, tubers, highland barley, beans, pork, beef, mutton, poultry, aquatic products, eggs, and dairy products) in China from 2020 to 2100 across the five shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios at the provincial level.The projected diets were proven to be consistent with Chinese dietary practices and fulfilled macronutritionsrequirements, compared to dietary guidelines from the EAT-Lancet Commission, the Chinese Nutrition Society, and major peer studies. Diet directly relates to food security, human health, and environmental sustainability. The dataset developed in this study provides detailed demand information at both spatial and food-specific levels, offering valuable insights for conducting food management strategies tailored to regional needs and optimizing resource allocation strategies. The data unit is ten thousand tons.