The Role of the Digital Economy in Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Development: Implications for Sustainable Food Security

The digital economy is increasingly recognized as a key force behind sustainable agricultural development, transforming farm management and enhancing food security through innovation, resource optimization, and data-driven decision-making. This study examines how participation in the digital economy affects the agricultural management scale of high-quality farmers in Jiangxi Province, China. Based on survey data from 868 farmers collected in 2022, we apply Ordinary Least Squares regression models, instrumental variable approaches, and mediation analysis to identify the mechanisms at work. The findings indicate that digital economy participation significantly expands agricultural management scale by promoting land transfer-in and elevating farmers’ subjective social status. Further heterogeneity analysis shows that the positive impact is more pronounced among older farmers and those not intending to pursue further education. These insights highlight the essential role of digital tools in fostering sustainable and scalable farming practices and offer practical implications for rural digital transformation strategies.