The Impact of Digitalization on Agricultural Green Development: Evidence from China’s Provinces

Linlin Fu (), Jiajun Min, Cheng Luo, Xiaohong Mao () and Ziqi Liu
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Linlin Fu: Institute of Rural Development, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Jiajun Min: China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Cheng Luo: China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Xiaohong Mao: Institute of Rural Development, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Ziqi Liu: Institute of Rural Development, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Agricultural green development is crucial for achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with the digital technology revolution acting as a catalyst for both China’s green agricultural transformation and global sustainable development efforts. This study utilizes panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities) from 2012 to 2022 to assess the digitalization level and agricultural green development through a combined entropy weight and TOPSIS method. It also investigates the spatial agglomeration of agricultural green development using Moran’s I index and empirically evaluates the impact of digitalization on agricultural green development through OLS and spatial Durbin models. The findings reveal that, while China’s agricultural green development has progressed slowly yet steadily during the study period, it demonstrates significant spatial agglomeration, driven primarily by agricultural production efficiency and resource recycling. Notably, a non-linear U-shaped relationship exists between digitalization and agricultural green development, suggesting that digitalization fosters agricultural green development only after surpassing a certain threshold. Additionally, digitalization has spatial spillover effects: advancements in neighboring provinces correlate with local agricultural green development in a U-shaped manner, with an initial “siphon effect” followed by a “trickle-down effect.” These insights inform policy recommendations aimed at optimizing the use of digital technology to facilitate green agricultural transformation, offering valuable guidance for policymakers.

Keywords: digitalization; agricultural green development; non-linear U-shaped relationship; spatial Durbin models; spillover effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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