Research on spatial disparities and obstacle factors in the coupling coordination between agricultural digitalization and food security: evidence from panel data of 30 provinces in China

Abstract The profound integration of agricultural digitalization and food security stands as a cornerstone strategy for achieving agricultural modernization and enhancing national food security. Based on the provincial panel data from 2010 to 2022, this study first employs the entropy method to measure the levels of agricultural digitalization and food security, and then utilizes the coupling coordination degree and relative development models to identify the coordination types and their evolutionary characteristics between the two. Subsequently, based on the Dagum Gini coefficient and Moran’s I index, this study investigates the spatial disparity features of their coupling coordination degree. Finally, the obstacle degree model is applied to identify the obstacle factors constraining the enhancement of their coupling coordination degree. The research findings are as follows: (1) During the study period, both the coupling coordination degree and the relative development level between agricultural digitalization and food security exhibited an upward trend, manifesting as “major grain-consuming areas > major grain-producing regions > the areas with balanced grain production and consumption.” (2) From the perspective of spatial dynamic disparities, the overall gap in the coupling coordination degree gradually narrowed. The gap among the three functional zones emerged as the primary source of disparity, with the coefficient of disparity showing an upward trend. From the perspective of spatial dynamic correlations, a positive spatial correlation was observed in their coupling coordination degree. (3) The primary obstacle factors influencing their coupling coordination are the application of digital technology, digital development vitality, resource security, and quality security. This study offers compelling empirical support for exploring effective coupling strategies between agricultural digitalization and food security.