Agricultural and rural digitalisation in regional sustainable development: A comparative study between China and the European Union

Abstract

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, digitalisation has gained widespread acceptance as a powerful tool for socioeconomic and environmental progress. Agricultural and Rural Digitalization (ARD) has been less researched than urban digitalisation, which received the most public interest. In this study, I addressed the advantages and significance of Agricultural and Rural Digitalization for regional sustainable development; and how our work can address the present implementation-related issues. The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) is an important indicator utilised to summarise digital performance in the European Union, and it is used in this research to assess the development of digitalisation. I made a comparison study to address the current issue and underline the relevance of agricultural and rural digitalisation by analysing official documents. Digitalisation proved to impact sustainable rural development positively, and a monitoring system can be used to produce policy-oriented recommendations. Our research aided people’s understanding of China’s program for smart and digital rural areas and provided policymakers with alternative strategies between China and the European Union when they needed a reference on the development of digital rural areas.

Spatial-Temporal Variations and Driving Factors of the Coupling and Coordination Level of the Digital Economy and Sustainable Rural Development: A Case Study of China

“…This integration extends to rural logistics, where the digital economy is gradually merging, driving the industry towards digital transformation and sustainable development [26]. Moreover, the rural digital economy acts as a bridge between rural and urban areas, expanding market transactions and efficiency, and addressing issues like overcapacity and market information asymmetry [27]. In rural areas, the digital economy, by integrating with the traditional economy, promotes the sharing of information, knowledge, and other aspects, promoting the transformation of rural industrial structures [28].…”