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The Role of the Digital Economy in Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Development: Implications for Sustainable Food Security

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The digital economy is increasingly recognized as a key force behind sustainable agricultural development, transforming farm management and enhancing food security through innovation, resource optimization, and data-driven decision-making. This study examines how participation in the digital economy affects the agricultural management scale of high-quality farmers in Jiangxi Province, China. Based on survey data from 868 farmers collected in 2022, we apply Ordinary Least Squares regression models, instrumental variable approaches, and mediation analysis to identify the mechanisms at work. The findings indicate that digital economy participation significantly expands agricultural management scale by promoting land transfer-in and elevating farmers’ subjective social status. Further heterogeneity analysis shows that the positive impact is more pronounced among older farmers and those not intending to pursue further education. These insights highlight the essential role of digital tools in fostering sustainable and scalable farming practices and offer practical implications for rural digital transformation strategies.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su17093777

Authors: Xia Kuang, Hailan Qiu, Zhipeng Wang, Jiawei Wang, Feng Ye

Institutions: Jiangxi Agricultural University, Jiangxi Open University, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics

Language: English

Topic: Digitalization and Economic Development in Agriculture

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896