[Synergistic Effect of Digital Transformation on Agricultural Pollution and Carbon Reduction in China].
Abstract
Confronted with the intertwined challenges of agricultural non-point source pollution and carbon emissions, the synergistic reduction of both is crucial for the comprehensive green transformation of agricultural development. Based on measurements of the agricultural digitization level in each province, this study empirically examines the impact of digital transformation on the synergy between pollution and carbon reduction, as well as its underlying mechanisms, using provincial panel data from 2005 to 2022. The study concluded that agricultural digital transformation had a significant synergistic effect of reducing pollution and carbon emissions, and it could simultaneously and significantly reduce the emissions of agricultural non-point source pollutants and carbon emissions. After conducting robustness tests, such as controlling for endogeneity, replacing the explained variables and core explanatory variables, adjusting the research window, and using the system GMM estimation, this conclusion still holds. Mechanism analysis revealed that green technology innovation and improvements in resource allocation efficiency were two key channels through which digital promotion could facilitate the synergistic development of pollution and carbon reduction in agriculture. Heterogeneity analysis indicated that the benefits of agricultural digital transformation in achieving pollution and carbon reduction synergies were more pronounced in the eastern region, areas with high levels of digitization, regions with advanced digital infrastructure, and locales with abundant human capital.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Digitalization and Economic Development in Agriculture
Digital Economy and Transformation
Energy
Environment
Economic Growth
Publication details
- Journal / source
- PubMed
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 855–865
- Publication date
- 8 February 2026
- Language
- ZH