Impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security: an empirical study in rural China
By optimizing the mechanism of farmland transfer, digital technology promotes large-scale and mechanized operation, significantly improves agricultural production efficiency and resource utilization rate, which provides key support for ensuring food security. Using panel data of Rural Fixed Observat...
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1631305/full |
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| author | Xinyu Guo Xianghua Liu Jinwei Lv Ruojia Zhu |
| author_facet | Xinyu Guo Xianghua Liu Jinwei Lv Ruojia Zhu |
| author_sort | Xinyu Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | By optimizing the mechanism of farmland transfer, digital technology promotes large-scale and mechanized operation, significantly improves agricultural production efficiency and resource utilization rate, which provides key support for ensuring food security. Using panel data of Rural Fixed Observation Point in Henan Province from 2009 to 2022, this study empirically investigates the impact of Internet access on farmland transfer and constructs a mathematical theoretical model to study the potential mechanism. This study finds that the Internet access of farmers can promote the transfer of farmland. The potential mechanisms are the resource reallocation effect triggered by increased non-farm employment and income, the efficiency-enhancing effect of agricultural production driven by digital technology, and the transaction facilitation effect brought about by lower information costs. Heterogeneity analysis shows that in terms of policy support, the increase of grain purchase price and direct subsidy positively regulate the willingness to transfer; In terms of farmers’ capital endowment, the groups with high human capital and physical capital are more inclined to transfer out of farmland, while the households with high land capital show the characteristics of farmland dependence, and the households with high information capital have a stronger willingness to transfer farmland; In terms of economic and cultural attributes, farmers located in agricultural areas, underdeveloped areas and traditional villages also have stronger willingness to transfer farmland. These findings not only help to release the potential of land factors but also provide a feasible path for small farmers to connect with modern agriculture through technology empowerment, which has dual practical value for ensuring food security and promoting rural revitalization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-145e4a2f6929431fbf093feb8ed822b4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-145e4a2f6929431fbf093feb8ed822b42025-08-21T04:10:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-08-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.16313051631305Impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security: an empirical study in rural ChinaXinyu Guo0Xianghua Liu1Jinwei Lv2Ruojia Zhu3School of International Trade and Economics, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, ChinaSchool of International Trade and Economics, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, ChinaBy optimizing the mechanism of farmland transfer, digital technology promotes large-scale and mechanized operation, significantly improves agricultural production efficiency and resource utilization rate, which provides key support for ensuring food security. Using panel data of Rural Fixed Observation Point in Henan Province from 2009 to 2022, this study empirically investigates the impact of Internet access on farmland transfer and constructs a mathematical theoretical model to study the potential mechanism. This study finds that the Internet access of farmers can promote the transfer of farmland. The potential mechanisms are the resource reallocation effect triggered by increased non-farm employment and income, the efficiency-enhancing effect of agricultural production driven by digital technology, and the transaction facilitation effect brought about by lower information costs. Heterogeneity analysis shows that in terms of policy support, the increase of grain purchase price and direct subsidy positively regulate the willingness to transfer; In terms of farmers’ capital endowment, the groups with high human capital and physical capital are more inclined to transfer out of farmland, while the households with high land capital show the characteristics of farmland dependence, and the households with high information capital have a stronger willingness to transfer farmland; In terms of economic and cultural attributes, farmers located in agricultural areas, underdeveloped areas and traditional villages also have stronger willingness to transfer farmland. These findings not only help to release the potential of land factors but also provide a feasible path for small farmers to connect with modern agriculture through technology empowerment, which has dual practical value for ensuring food security and promoting rural revitalization.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1631305/fullfood securityscale economyproduction efficiencyinternet accessfarmland transferdecision making model |
| spellingShingle | Xinyu Guo Xianghua Liu Jinwei Lv Ruojia Zhu Impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security: an empirical study in rural China Frontiers in Environmental Science food security scale economy production efficiency internet access farmland transfer decision making model |
| title | Impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security: an empirical study in rural China |
| title_full | Impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security: an empirical study in rural China |
| title_fullStr | Impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security: an empirical study in rural China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security: an empirical study in rural China |
| title_short | Impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security: an empirical study in rural China |
| title_sort | impact of digital technology on farmland transfer and food security an empirical study in rural china |
| topic | food security scale economy production efficiency internet access farmland transfer decision making model |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1631305/full |
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