How does digital economy affect food system resilience? A quasi-natural experiment on China’s smart city pilot policy using double machine learning

Introduction Digitalization has facilitated the transformation and modernization of traditional agricultural inputs, leading to the fast expansion of the digital economy in recent years, which presents a crucial opportunity to bolster food system resilience (FSR). This study utilizes a double machine learning (DML) approach and exploits China’s Smart City Pilot (SC) policy as a quasi-natural experiment to explore the internal mechanisms through which the digital economy impacts FSR, thereby offering valuable implications for global food security. Methods This study considers China’s SC policy as an exogenous shock to denote the advancement of the digital economy. It uses a DML model to evaluate the influence of the digital economy on FSR and its underlying mechanisms, as well as a spatial econometric model to investigate potential spillover effects. Results and discussion The digital economy significantly enhances FSR. The development of digital inclusive finance, enhancement of agricultural labor productivity, and the deepening of agricultural product processing constitute critical pathways through which the digital economy contributes to FSR. The digital economy exerts a more pronounced influence on enhancing the adaptive and transformative dimensions of FSR, particularly by fostering synergies with major grain-producing regions. Moreover, the positive effects of the digital economy on FSR are more pronounced in regions characterized by higher farmer income levels, more developed economies, and greater degrees of urbanization. Further analysis indicates that the digital economy generates positive spatial spillover effects on FSR, indicating that it not only strengthens local resilience but also promotes improvements in neighboring regions. Conclusion To further strengthen FSR, it is imperative to enhance digital infrastructure and develop a solid digital basis. Systematically drive comprehensive digital transformation throughout the whole food industry chain to boost food production along with quality. A coordinated digital economy development strategy should be devised.