Impact of Digital Economy on China’s Agriculture

Digital Economy Influencing Agricultural Ecological Transformation

In a recent study examining the impact of the digital economy on China’s agricultural ecological transformation, particularly in context of low-carbon innovation, it was revealed that agriculture, a significant contributor to carbon emissions, is witnessing profound changes. This is largely due to the growth of the digital economy. China, being a major carbon emitter, has seen a marked shift in its agricultural sector.

The research employed a Super-SBM model to construct an agricultural ecological transformation system and a dynamic panel threshold model to investigate the nonlinear impact of the digital economy on this transformation. The results indicated that China’s agricultural ecological transformation level is generally low but exhibits a steady upward trend, with stark disparities between regions.

The Role of Low-Carbon Technological Innovation

The study discovered a threshold effect where low levels of low-carbon technological innovation hinder the digital economy’s ability to promote agricultural ecological transformation. However, surpassing a critical value of innovation results in a ‘U’ shaped relationship, facilitating the digital economy to stimulate improvement in agricultural ecology.

This research underscores the importance of low-carbon technological innovation in achieving sustainable agriculture. It offers valuable insights for developing countries aiming to reduce carbon emissions alongside promoting economic growth.

Policy Recommendations and Further Implications

The paper, by constructing a measurement framework for agricultural ecological transformation and analyzing the role of the digital economy and low-carbon innovation, makes a significant contribution to the literature. The study concludes with policy recommendations to support low-carbon agriculture development.

The research also explores the positive impact of digital village construction on household income and well-being, thus supporting the implementation of the digital China strategy and the goal of common prosperity for all Chinese people. The study offers an in-depth understanding of the digital economy’s role in reducing the economic gap between urban and rural areas and promoting common prosperity in rural areas through digital inclusive finance.