Impact of digital transformation on agricultural ecological efficiency: empirical findings from China

Coordinating agricultural production and the ecological environment is a crucial aspect of sustainable growth, while digital transformation (DIG) provides new technical means to achieve this goal. Consequently, it is essential to investigate the impact of DIG on agricultural ecological efficiency (AEE). Thirty of China’s provinces have been chosen for this study, which is covering the years 2011–2019, and builds a four-stage NDDF-DEA model to measure AEE. On this basis, through the construction of a fixed panel model, an intermediary model, an intermediary adjustment model, and a spatial econometric model, the impact of DIG on AEE and its mechanism are empirically investigated. The study results show that DIG has significantly improved AEE, and this finding remains valid even after multiple robustness tests. The mechanism analysis found that DIG can improve AEE by promoting technological innovation, and this transmission mechanism will be affected by the government’s environmental regulation policies. Further research found that the impact of DIG on AEE has spatial spillover effects, indicating the necessity of regional collaboration. This paper presents research that establishes a theoretical foundation and offers policy suggestions to enhance the DIG in agriculture and rural areas, ultimately achieving sustainable agricultural growth.