The impact of Internet use on agricultural carbon emission efficiency: Empirical evidence from grain farmers in Henan, Hunan, and Heilongjiang

[Objective] The purpose of this study was to clarify the mechanism of impact of Internet use on agricultural carbon emission efficiency in the context of rapid development of information technology, which is of great significance for promoting sustainable agricultural development. [Methods] Based on field survey data from 1192 farming households in Henan, Hunan, and Heilongjiang Provinces in 2021, this study used the super slacks-based measure (SBM) model to measure agricultural carbon emission efficiency and the treatment effect model to analyze the impact of Internet use on agricultural carbon emission efficiency. [Results] (1) Internet use significantly promoted agricultural carbon emission efficiency. The more types of agricultural information obtained by using the Internet, the more conducive it was to improving agricultural carbon emission efficiency; (2) Internet use affected agricultural carbon emission efficiency through green production technology adoption and market participation, respectively; (3) Heterogeneity analyses found that focusing on green production technology information significantly increased agricultural carbon emission efficiency compared to using the Internet to focus on weather information and information on government regulations; (4) Sub-sample studies found that Internet use had a significant positive effect on the increase in agricultural carbon emission efficiency of the farmers in the relatively high education group, the risk adverse group, and the high social relationship group. [Conclusion] In conclusion, measures should be taken to improve agricultural carbon emission efficiency and accelerate the transformation of green agricultural development, such as by increasing investment in rural Internet infrastructure construction, building agricultural science and technology service platforms and agricultural product information platforms, expanding farmers’ market participation channels, and improving farmers’ Internet technology application skills.