In the heart of China’s agricultural evolution, a groundbreaking study has unveiled the transformative power of digital-green synergy, offering a promising pathway to cultivate new quality productive forces in agriculture. Published in the journal *Agriculture*, the research led by Jingjing Zhang from the School of Economics and Management at Beijing Forestry University, sheds light on how the interplay between digitalization and greening can revolutionize the agricultural sector.
The study, which analyzed provincial-level data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2012 and 2023, constructed comprehensive evaluation index systems for agricultural digitalization, greening, and agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs). By applying a coupling coordination model, the researchers measured the degree of digital-green synergy and employed a two-way fixed effects model to test its impact on ANQPFs.
The findings are compelling. The research indicates that digital-green synergy significantly enhances ANQPFs. Specifically, a 1% increase in the synergy index improves ANQPFs by 29.6%. This enhancement is primarily achieved through industrial structure optimization, technological innovation stimulation, and resource allocation efficiency improvement.
“Our study innovatively integrates digitalization and greening into the analytical framework of agricultural productivity,” said lead author Jingjing Zhang. “This expansion of theoretical understanding highlights how synergistic transformation drives high-quality agricultural development.”
The commercial impacts of this research are substantial. For the agriculture sector, the integration of digital and green technologies can lead to more efficient resource use, reduced environmental impact, and increased productivity. This synergy can drive the development of new agricultural products and services, creating new market opportunities and revenue streams.
The positive effects of digital-green synergy are most prominent in the central region of China, after the implementation of the Digital Village Strategy, and in major grain-producing areas. This regional heterogeneity suggests that targeted policies and investments can amplify the benefits of digital-green synergy in specific contexts.
The study’s findings have significant implications for future developments in the field. Governments and stakeholders should strengthen coordination between digital and green policies, promote the integration and innovation of related technologies, and foster an enabling environment that supports the formation and evolution of new quality productive forces in agriculture.
As the agricultural sector continues to evolve, the insights from this research can guide policymakers, farmers, and agribusinesses in harnessing the power of digital-green synergy to drive sustainable and high-quality agricultural development. The study not only expands the theoretical understanding of agricultural productivity but also provides practical strategies for achieving high-quality agricultural development in the digital age.