How digital technology can improve new quality productive forces? ——Perspective of total factor agricultural carbon productivity

As a catalyst for high-quality economic development, digital technology presents significant opportunities for promoting agricultural new quality productive forces and realizing “dual carbon” goals. This study comprehensively explores the connotation and extension of new quality productive forces, integrating it with the unique characteristics of agricultural production to thoroughly investigate the impact and mechanisms of digital technology on total factor agricultural carbon productivity. The findings reveal a notably positive influence of digital technology on total factor agricultural carbon productivity, primarily driven by advancements in technological catch-up. Heterogeneity analysis shows that digital infrastructure and technology innovation exert a stronger influence. Moreover, regions with robust policy support, particularly in central and western provinces, reap greater benefits from digital technology adoption. Mechanism test indicates that digital technology contributes to agricultural carbon productivity by saving resource input, advancing low-carbon technology progress, and promoting waste recycling. These insights hold significant implications for policymaking endeavors aimed at nurturing agricultural new productive forces and facilitating the modernization of agricultural and rural sectors.