New Digital Infrastructure’s Impact on Agricultural Eco-Efficiency Improvement: Influence Mechanism and Empirical Test—Evidence from China

Abstract

This paper attempts to explore the overall impact of its rural digitization process on agricultural carbon emissions and non-point source pollution in the context of China. By doing so, we analyze whether digitization has an impact on agricultural pollution reduction, analyze its conductive mechanism, and draw its policy implications. To this end, the paper innovatively incorporates new digital infrastructure and urbanization level into of the concept of agricultural eco-efficiency (AEE) and adopts the SBM-DEA model, entropy weighting method, and mixed regression to analyze, based on the sample data of the 30 provinces of China from 2011 to 2020. The results indicate that: (1) new digital infrastructure has a significant contribution to the improvement of AEE of China; (2) both information infrastructure and integration infrastructure have a significant positive effect on AEE, and the effect of information infrastructure is more effective, but there is an inverted “U”-shaped relationship between innovation infrastructure and AEE level; (3) the moderating effect mechanism suggests that the level of urbanization reinforces the contribution of new digital infrastructure to AEE; and (4) the heterogeneity test shows that the effect of new digital infrastructure on AEE is more significant in regions with well-developed traditional transportation facilities and in periods when the government pays more attention to agricultural ecological issues. The above results also provide rich insights for China and other similar developing countries on how to balance the agriculture digitization and AEE.

Is the digital economy empowering high-quality tourism development? A theoretical and empirical research from China

“…For example, the Authority uses data technology to predict how climate changes affect tourism destinations and provides response guidelines for public services, tourism transportation, and resource protection through a big data monitoring platform to enhance external response capabilities. As an important contributor to the efficiency of China’s economic growth [ 49 ], DI can also collect, integrate, and process credit information, build a credit system for the whole society, and interconnect with other core sectors to create a favorable market environment for the tourism industry and to ensure the effectiveness of market management. At the same time, access to authentic information can mitigate information asymmetries and pre-existing market failures.…”

Digital Village Construction: A Multi-Level Governance Approach to Enhance Agroecological Efficiency

“…According to Ren et al (2023) [41], considering that agricultural input and production conditions are not static, the study chooses the SBM-DEA model under variable returns to scale as the measurement model of AEE level. Due to the spatial agglomeration of agroecological efficiency [34], the research presented the measurement results from four aspects: national, eastern, central, and western (as shown in Table 2).…”

“…The more developed the regional economy, the stronger the infrastructure and technical conditions for the construction of a digital village, the more positive interaction with ecological agriculture can be realized, and sustainable agricultural development can be promoted [25]. Therefore, referring to Ren et al (2023) [41], this paper selects the average GDP of 30 provinces in China during 2014-2020 as the median. China's 30 provinces were divided into the regions with higher economic development levels (Beijing, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Shaanxi) and region with lower economic development level (Tianjin, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang).…”

Study on the Mitigation Effect and Promotion Mechanism of Agricultural Digitalization on the Agricultural Land Resource Mismatch

“…First of all, the construction of an agricultural digital infrastructure is a prerequisite to realize the improvement of the agricultural socialization service level. It involves accelerating the construction of digital infrastructure in rural areas, introducing advanced agricultural technology and intelligent equipment [32], and effectively guaranteeing the operation of agricultural social digital services. Secondly, by establishing a digital platform to integrate the resources of all parties, we can help the expansion and extension of agricultural social services [33].…”