Sustainable Model of Agricultural Enterprises in the Environment of Digital Transformation

Cui Haitao

Agricultural industries -- Technological innovations -- China

Sustainable agriculture -- Economic aspects -- China

Technological innovations -- Economic aspects -- China

Against the backdrop of the global digital wave profoundly reshaping the economic landscape, agriculture, as the foundation of the national economy, has seen digital transformation emerge as a critical pathway to breaking through traditional development bottlenecks and achieving sustainable growth. Chinese agricultural enterprises are at a pivotal stage of transitioning from traditional production models to intelligent, data-driven paradigms, yet the implementation effects of digital transformation and its mechanism on enterprise performance require in-depth exploration. This study focuses on the sustainable development model of agricultural enterprises in the context of digital transformation, aiming to explore the impact mechanisms of digital transformation, corporate environment, and dynamic capabilities on the performance of agricultural enterprises.
This paper centers on the sustainable development model of agricultural enterprises amid digital transformation. Based on dynamic capability theory and corporate environment adaptation theory, it constructs a theoretical model of "digital transformation-dynamic capabilities-enterprise performance" by integrating quantitative analysis of 360 valid samples and in-depth interviews with 20 experts. The study finds that: at the direct effect level, digital transformation (mean 3.721, with marketing digitization scoring 3.781 as the highest) and corporate environment (mean 3.745, with the credit policy dimension performing optimally at 3.820) have significant direct impacts on the performance of agricultural enterprises (mean 3.657, with financial performance of 3.785 significantly leading social and ecological performance), with standardized path coefficients of 0.199 (p<0.001) and 0.23 (p<0.001), respectively, revealing that digital technology application and environmental adaptability are core drivers of performance improvement. At the mediating mechanism level, dynamic capabilities (mean 3.548, with the absorptive capacity dimension at 3.591 as the key pivot) play a partial mediating role in the above relationships, with indirect effects of 0.178 from digital transformation through dynamic capabilities and 0.2 from the corporate environment, and total effects reaching 0.377 and 0.43, respectively, verifying the industry-specific transmission path of "digital transformation/corporate environment→dynamic capabilities→enterprise performance". At the model validation level, the structural equation model shows CMIN/DF=1.079 (<3), CFI=0.997 (>0.9), and RMSEA=0.015 (<0.05), indicating excellent model fit, and the reliability and validity indicators of each dimension (CR>0.812, AVE>0.581) meet academic standards, confirming the theoretical rationality of dynamic capabilities as mediating variables.
This paper first reveals the performance generation mechanism of digital transformation in agricultural enterprises through a "two-wheel drive-mediating transmission" framework, identifying knowledge absorption and resource integration capabilities in dynamic capabilities as the key hub to address the "digital paradox". The study not only enriches the strategic management theory of agricultural enterprises in the digital economy but also provides empirical support for governments to formulate differentiated policies (such as special subsidies for weak links in R&D digitization). Meanwhile, it proposes a three-stage implementation path of "technology embeddingcapability cultivation-environmental collaboration" for enterprises, holding significant practical guiding value for promoting the digital upgrading of the agricultural industry and the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy.

Keywords: Digital transformation; Agricultural enterprises; Dynamic capabilities; Enterprise performance; Sustainable development mode

Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University. Office of Academic Resources and Information Technology

Chaiyawit Muangmee

Nusanee Meekaewkunchorn

Tatchapong Sattabut

2025

2026-09-22

2026-09-22

2026-09-22

thesis

application/pdf

eng

Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral degree

Business Administration Program (International Program)

Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University