Can Digitalization Improve China's Food Security?

As global food security continues to be extremely challenging, countries are seeking optimal solutions for the sustainable development of their agriculture and food systems under environmental and resource pressures. This study explores whether and how digitalization facilitates or hinders China's food security. Based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Bank, and United Nations E‐Government survey, we assess digital transformation in terms of digital infrastructure, competition, innovation, and digital governance using the entropy method. Specifically, we use ordinary least‐squares and robust and ridge regressions to estimate the impact of digitalization on food security in China during 2000–2021. The results indicate that digitalization improves food security through production and transaction enablement. Namely, digital infrastructure and competition significantly contribute to food availability, accessibility, and utilization. In addition, digital innovation experiences synergies with other digital indicators to improve food security. However, digital governance decreases food sustainability because of premature digital governance, as well as a lack of digital talent, investment, and technical support. Thus, to increase food security, it is essential to upgrade the digital infrastructure, accelerate digital innovation, cultivate digital talents, improve digital governance, and make full use of digital enabling in production as well as the market.