IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i5p2187-d1604336.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Influence of Digital Literacy on Farmers’ Adoption Behavior of Low-Carbon Agricultural Technology: Chain Intermediary Role Based on Capital Endowment and Adoption Willingness

Author

Listed:
  • Yanmei Yuan

    (College of Economics and Management, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
    Faculty of General Education, Taishan College of Science and Technology, Tai’an 271038, China)

  • Le Sun

    (College of Economics and Management, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China)

  • Zongyun She

    (College of Economics and Management, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China)

  • Shengwei Chen

    (College of Economics and Management, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
    School of Economics, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China)

Abstract

Farmers are the key adopters of low-carbon agricultural technologies, and their adoption behavior is crucial for achieving the “dual carbon” goals. However, how digital literacy influences farmers’ technology adoption remains underexplored. Based on survey data from 742 farmers in Shandong Province, this study employs an ordered Logit model to examine the impact of digital literacy on the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies, as well as the mediating effects of capital endowment and adoption willingness, along with their heterogeneity. The results indicate that digital literacy significantly promotes farmers’ adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies, but its effects vary across different technology types. Information acquisition literacy and security literacy have a greater impact on data-driven technologies (water-saving irrigation and soil testing-based fertilization), while content creation literacy and problem-solving literacy play a more significant role in knowledge-based technologies (integrated pest management). Mechanism analysis reveals that capital endowment and adoption willingness function as independent mediators, with a significant chain mediation effect between them. Furthermore, different dimensions of capital endowment exert heterogeneous influences on technology adoption: human and material capital primarily influence conservation tillage and water-saving irrigation, social capital facilitates integrated pest management, and economic capital plays a crucial role in water-saving irrigation adoption. Based on these findings, this study recommends enhancing farmers’ digital literacy, optimizing capital endowment structures, strengthening market mechanisms, and establishing demonstration bases to accelerate the widespread adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies and contribute to the realization of the “dual carbon” goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanmei Yuan & Le Sun & Zongyun She & Shengwei Chen, 2025. "Influence of Digital Literacy on Farmers’ Adoption Behavior of Low-Carbon Agricultural Technology: Chain Intermediary Role Based on Capital Endowment and Adoption Willingness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2187-:d:1604336
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2187/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2187/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bo Liu & Jing Zhou, 2023. "Digital Literacy, Farmers’ Income Increase and Rural Internal Income Gap," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Xuefeng Ma & Liang Cheng & Yahui Li & Minjuan Zhao, 2024. "Digital Literacy and the Livelihood Resilience of Livestock Farmers: Empirical Evidence from the Old Revolutionary Base Areas in Northwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-25, October.
    3. Xinyan Wei & Ying Liu & Yang Liu, 2023. "Study on the Impact of Internet Usage, Aging on Farm Household Income," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Hengyuan Zeng & Jingru Chen & Qiang Gao, 2024. "The Impact of Digital Technology Use on Farmers’ Land Transfer-In: Empirical Evidence from Jiangsu, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Dongkai Lin & Bingsheng Fu & Kexiao Xie & Wanhe Zheng & Linjie Chang & Jinke Lin, 2023. "Research on the Improvement of Digital Literacy for Moderately Scaled Tea Farmers under the Background of Digital Intelligence Empowerment," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-26, September.
    6. Bingbing Huang & Hui Kong & Jinhong Yu & Xiaoyou Zhang, 2022. "A Study on the Impact of Low-Carbon Technology Application in Agriculture on the Returns of Large-Scale Farmers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-18, August.
    7. Dungang Zang & Sen Yang & Fanghua Li, 2022. "The Relationship between Land Transfer and Agricultural Green Production: A Collaborative Test Based on Theory and Data," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yaru Cao & Yanjun Wang & Shenyu Xiao & Liming Xiao, 2025. "The Impact of Digital Financial Inclusion on the Construction of Agricultural Anti-Risk Capacity: Based on a Sample Analysis of 46 Prefecture-Level Cities in the Huaihe River Basin," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Qiong Liu & Cuiying Zhu, 2024. "Digital Rural Construction and the Welfare of Disadvantaged Children: Exploring the Roles of Government and NGOs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Hua Zhang & Qiwang Zhang & Man An & Zixuan Zhang & Nanqiao He, 2023. "Unveiling the Impact of Digital Financial Inclusion on Low-Carbon Green Utilization of Farmland: The Roles of Farmland Transfer and Management Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    4. Bachev, Hrabrin, 2025. "Структура На Договорите И Гавърнанса В Българските Ферми [Structure of contracts and governance of Bulgarian farms]," MPRA Paper 123372, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Bachev, Hrabrin, 2025. "Управление На Снабдяването Със Земя И Води В Българските Ферми [Management of land and water supply in Bulgarian farms]," MPRA Paper 123371, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Yitao Wang & Weidong Wang & Xuemei Jiang & Hui Wang, 2024. "The Impact of Farmers’ E-Commerce Adoption on Land Transfer: Evidence from Ten Provinces across China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Linwei Wang & Yixin Hu & Rong Kong, 2023. "The Impact of Bancassurance Interaction on the Adoption Behavior of Green Production Technology in Family Farms: Evidence from China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-26, April.
    8. Lan Pan & Haoran Wan & Xufeng Cui, 2024. "Exploring the Impact of Land Certification on Centralized Transfer in Rural China: The Roles of Timing, Inequality, and Governance," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-24, November.
    9. Bachev, Hrabrin & Mihailova, Mihaela & Terziev, Dimitar & Georgiev, Minko & Nikolov, Dimitre & Dimova, Nadejda & Marinov, Petar & Mikova, Rosiza & Tzvyatkova, Daniela & Mitov, Anton & Asenov, Stefan &, 2024. "Икономически Анализи На Договорите И Договорните Отношения В Аграрната Сфера На България [Economic analysis of contracts and contractual relations in the Bulgarian agrarian sector]," MPRA Paper 123480, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Zhen Wang & Xiaoyu Zhang & Hui Lu & Xiaolan Kang & Bin Liu, 2023. "The Effect of Industrial Agglomeration on Agricultural Green Production Efficiency: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-23, August.
    11. Shen Yang & Zhang Xiuwu, 2024. "Cleaner Production: Analysis of the Role and Path of Green Finance in Controlling Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 18(1), pages 1-13.
    12. Ziyang Zhou & Ziwei Li & Guangyan Chen & Jinpeng Zou & Mingling Du & Fang Wang, 2024. "Digital Literacy Level and Formal Credit Constraints: Probit Analysis of Farm Households’ Borrowing Behavior in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-20, May.
    13. Xiaoyu Liu & Junlan Xiang & Ling Qiu & Xinhong Fu & Yuying Liu, 2025. "Research on cooperative's information services, farmers' cognition, and fertilizer reduction behavior: evidence from China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 4513-4539, February.
    14. Yunke Deng & Haixin Tao & Bolun Yao & Xuezhu Shi, 2025. "The Impact of Digital Infrastructure on Rural Household Financial Vulnerability: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from the Broadband China Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, February.
    15. Yupan Zhao & Xiaofeng Zhao & Jielun Yang, 2024. "Coupling Coordination and Influencing Factors Between Digital Village Development and Agricultural and Rural Modernization: Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-23, October.
    16. Xiao Liu & Zhenyu Wang & Xiaoyan Han, 2024. "The Impact of Digital Literacy on Farmers’ Green Production Behavior: Mediating Effects Based on Ecological Cognition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-20, August.
    17. Xuefeng Ma & Liang Cheng & Yahui Li & Minjuan Zhao, 2024. "Digital Literacy and the Livelihood Resilience of Livestock Farmers: Empirical Evidence from the Old Revolutionary Base Areas in Northwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-25, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2187-:d:1604336. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.