Empirical Analysis of the Role of Digital Agriculture in Enabling Coordinated Development of Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being: Evidence from Provincial Panel Data in China

Abstract

As digital transformation deepens, digital agriculture plays a crucial role in advancing the Coordinated Development Level of Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being (CD-ESWB). However, aligning ecosystem service capacities with human development needs remains a challenge. This study investigates how digital agriculture influences CD-ESWB, using panel data collected from 30 provinces in China between 2014 and 2022. First, an index system, the Level of Digital Agriculture Development (LDAD), is discussed, followed by a quantitative analysis using the entropy-weight TOPSIS method. The CD-ESWB is then evaluated through the “Ecosystem Services–Human Well-Being” coupling coordination model. Empirical analysis, incorporating fixed effects, mediation, and moderation models, demonstrates that digital agriculture significantly enhances CD-ESWB, though its impact varies across regions. Robustness checks, including instrumental variable methods, sample interval adjustment, and variable substitution, confirm the reliability of the findings. Notably, the Technological Innovation Effect (TIE) mediates digital agriculture’s impact, while Industrial Structure Upgrade (ISU) acts as a positive moderator. This study emphasizes the importance of regional policies in promoting technological innovation and optimizing industrial structures, providing both theoretical and empirical insights into how digital agriculture shapes CD-ESWB.