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

Chandio, aAbbas Ali; Akram, Waqar; Min Du, Anna; Ahmad, Fayyaz; Tang, Xiaoping

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.

Citation

Chandio, A. A., Akram, W., Min Du, A., Ahmad, F., & Tang, X. (2025). Agricultural transformation: Exploring the impact of digitalization, technological innovation and climate change on food production. Research in International Business and Finance, 75, Article 102755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2025.102755

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 5, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Jan 9, 2025
• Publication Date: 2025-03
• Deposit Date: Jan 9, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 9, 2025
• Journal: Research in International Business and Finance
• Print ISSN: 0275-5319
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 75
• Article Number: 102755
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2025.102755
• Keywords: ICT, Food production, R&D investment, Climatic changes, China
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4045808