Soil acidification of cultivated land is a global issue of soil degradation, leading to a severe decline in arable land quality and constraining the enhancement of regional grain production capacity and the sustainable development of agriculture. This article systematically presented the concept, underlying mechanisms, and influencing factors of soil acidification in cultivated land. It provided a comprehensive review of the current research status and developmental trends in soil acidification control both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, it conducted an in-depth analysis of the key scientific and technological challenges that required urgent resolution, and proposed priority research directions for soil acidification control during the “15^th Five-Year Plan” period. The research will focus on achieving systematic breakthroughs in areas such as monitoring and evaluation of soil acidification, prevention and mitigation strategies, enhancement of stable soil fertility, development of acid-tolerant high-yield and high-quality crop varieties, improvement of soil biodiversity and its ecological functions, enhancement of soil environmental quality and sustainable utilization, as well as regional prevention of soil acidification and enhancement of agricultural productivity. This effort aims to establish a theoretical and technical framework for regulating soil acidification and enhancing the ecological productivity of cultivated land in China, thereby providing critical scientific and technological support for the sustainable management of arable land and ensuring national food security.