Agricultural transformation: Exploring the impact of digitalization, technological innovation and climate change on food production

Abstract

Agricultural transformation is crucial for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable food production has become a key driver of this transformation, with China playing a vital role as a major global food producer. We investigate the long- and short-term impacts of technological innovation (R&D investment), digitalization (Internet and mobile phone use), and temperature changes on food production in China. We confirm long-run equilibrium relationships between these variables using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing. Findings indicate that the long-term usage of mobile phones and the Internet significantly increases food production. Similarly, long-term R&D expenditures significantly enhance food production, as long-term temperature increases reduce food production. Governments should facilitate information and communications technologies, research and development, and affordable financing to achieve food sustainability and adapt to climate change. The nexus between food production and its determinants • This study examines the impacts of digitalization, technological innovation and climate change on food security in China. • The study uses recent data and various estimation strategies (ARDL approach and time series data). • Findings of the study reveal that Mobile phone and the Internet impressively increases food production. • In addition, R&D expenditures have a major impact on food production. • In contrast, temperature changes have a negative impact on food production.

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