Digital input decision-making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidies

IntroductionAs digital technologies advance rapidly, the digital transformation of fresh agricultural product supply chains has emerged as a critical strategy for increasing operational efficiency, reducing product waste, and maintaining constant supply. However, adoption barriers such as high costs...

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Main Authors: Jing He, Sixin Chen, Chuanhong Zong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1602960/full
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author Jing He
Sixin Chen
Chuanhong Zong
author_facet Jing He
Sixin Chen
Chuanhong Zong
author_sort Jing He
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAs digital technologies advance rapidly, the digital transformation of fresh agricultural product supply chains has emerged as a critical strategy for increasing operational efficiency, reducing product waste, and maintaining constant supply. However, adoption barriers such as high costs and technical complexities highlight the crucial role of government subsidies in facilitating this transition.MethodsThis study develops an evolutionary game model to analyze interactions between suppliers and producers, incorporating: (1) government subsidies, (2) digital technology spillover effects, (3) input costs, (4) initial profit disparities, and (5) post-investment returns. The model quantifies how digital input costs affect supply chain members’ willingness to undertake digital transformation, along with the associated economic returns.ResultsKey findings demonstrate: (1) Market autonomy fails when digital costs exceed private returns, especially under high spillover effects. (2) Government subsidies effectively boost digital adoption willingness when subsidies surpass a critical threshold. (3) Higher subsidy levels and initial adoption rates accelerate supply chain transformation.DiscussionThe results demonstrate that government subsidies efficiently encourage the digital transformation of fresh agricultural supply chains. This research advances the theoretical understanding of digital transformation in agricultural supply chains and provides policymakers with decision-making tools for optimizing digital subsidy schemes in sustainable food systems.
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spelling doaj-art-87e30ea418704c3ca7119c0075396f9c2025-08-20T02:01:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-06-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.16029601602960Digital input decision-making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidiesJing He0Sixin Chen1Chuanhong Zong2School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai, ChinaIntroductionAs digital technologies advance rapidly, the digital transformation of fresh agricultural product supply chains has emerged as a critical strategy for increasing operational efficiency, reducing product waste, and maintaining constant supply. However, adoption barriers such as high costs and technical complexities highlight the crucial role of government subsidies in facilitating this transition.MethodsThis study develops an evolutionary game model to analyze interactions between suppliers and producers, incorporating: (1) government subsidies, (2) digital technology spillover effects, (3) input costs, (4) initial profit disparities, and (5) post-investment returns. The model quantifies how digital input costs affect supply chain members’ willingness to undertake digital transformation, along with the associated economic returns.ResultsKey findings demonstrate: (1) Market autonomy fails when digital costs exceed private returns, especially under high spillover effects. (2) Government subsidies effectively boost digital adoption willingness when subsidies surpass a critical threshold. (3) Higher subsidy levels and initial adoption rates accelerate supply chain transformation.DiscussionThe results demonstrate that government subsidies efficiently encourage the digital transformation of fresh agricultural supply chains. This research advances the theoretical understanding of digital transformation in agricultural supply chains and provides policymakers with decision-making tools for optimizing digital subsidy schemes in sustainable food systems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1602960/fullfresh agricultural productsAgri-food supply chaindigitalizationgovernment subsidiesinput decisions
spellingShingle Jing He
Sixin Chen
Chuanhong Zong
Digital input decision-making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidies
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
fresh agricultural products
Agri-food supply chain
digitalization
government subsidies
input decisions
title Digital input decision-making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidies
title_full Digital input decision-making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidies
title_fullStr Digital input decision-making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidies
title_full_unstemmed Digital input decision-making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidies
title_short Digital input decision-making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidies
title_sort digital input decision making in fresh agricultural supply chains under government subsidies
topic fresh agricultural products
Agri-food supply chain
digitalization
government subsidies
input decisions
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1602960/full
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AT sixinchen digitalinputdecisionmakinginfreshagriculturalsupplychainsundergovernmentsubsidies
AT chuanhongzong digitalinputdecisionmakinginfreshagriculturalsupplychainsundergovernmentsubsidies