Pub Date : 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104037
Kato Van Ruymbeke , Alberto M. Zanni , Alastair Bailey , Sophia Davidova , Zoltan Bakucs , Erik Mathijs , Liesbet Vranken
{"title":"Valuing the view: Public preferences for aesthetic qualities of agricultural landscapes across Europe","authors":"Kato Van Ruymbeke , Alberto M. Zanni , Alastair Bailey , Sophia Davidova , Zoltan Bakucs , Erik Mathijs , Liesbet Vranken","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104037","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104037"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104026
Teemu Makkonen, Mari Kattilakoski
Rural entrepreneurship has become an important scholarly topic. In the literature, it is often stated that entrepreneurship is increasingly regarded as a key policy target in rural development. However, previous research has not systematically mapped the evolution of entrepreneurship in rural policy to verify this notion. Here we investigate the changing importance and meaning given to entrepreneurship in the Finnish Rural Policy Programme, first drafted in 1991. Our analysis shows that, rather than gaining in popularity, the high importance given to entrepreneurship in Finnish rural policy has remained relatively stable over the years. What has changed are the connotations given to 1) entrepreneurship – from a target of sectoral interests that can collide with rural development to a generally accepted positive force of rural vitality, and 2) rural entrepreneurs – from mere innovation adopters to recognition of their innovative capacities.
{"title":"The development of entrepreneurship in rural policy over time: Evidence from Finland, 1991–2027","authors":"Teemu Makkonen, Mari Kattilakoski","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rural entrepreneurship has become an important scholarly topic. In the literature, it is often stated that entrepreneurship is increasingly regarded as a key policy target in rural development. However, previous research has not systematically mapped the evolution of entrepreneurship in rural policy to verify this notion. Here we investigate the changing importance and meaning given to entrepreneurship in the Finnish Rural Policy Programme, first drafted in 1991. Our analysis shows that, rather than gaining in popularity, the high importance given to entrepreneurship in Finnish rural policy has remained relatively stable over the years. What has changed are the connotations given to 1) entrepreneurship – from a target of sectoral interests that can collide with rural development to a generally accepted positive force of rural vitality, and 2) rural entrepreneurs – from mere innovation adopters to recognition of their innovative capacities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104026"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104033
Donghui Chen , Tao Xu , Dan Qiao
Promoting low-carbon renovations in rural housing not only reduces carbon emissions but also enhances residents' quality of life. However, existing studies have largely overlooked the pivotal role of digital literacy, which enables rural residents to effectively access information and solutions for low-carbon renovations, thereby fostering renovation demand. Drawing on 892 field survey responses from Hainan Province and employing an Oprobit model, this study empirically examines the impact of digital literacy on rural residents' demand for low-carbon housing renovations. The findings reveal three key insights. First, digital literacy exerts a significant positive effect on renovation demand, a conclusion that remains robust after addressing endogeneity and conducting robustness checks. Specifically, digital literacy significantly promotes demand for wall and roof renovations, solar installations, and energy-efficient appliances, though its effect on energy-saving doors and windows is less pronounced. Second, mechanism analysis indicates that low-carbon cognition mediates the relationship between digital literacy and renovation demand. Third, heterogeneity analysis shows that digital literacy is particularly effective in stimulating demand among residents with larger dwelling areas, shorter distances to logistics points, and lower satisfaction with existing housing. These results suggest that governments should prioritize improving rural residents’ digital literacy, thereby strengthening their low-carbon awareness and stimulating greater demand for sustainable housing renovations.
{"title":"How digital literacy influence rural residents' demand for low-carbon housing renovations?","authors":"Donghui Chen , Tao Xu , Dan Qiao","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104033","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Promoting low-carbon renovations in rural housing not only reduces carbon emissions but also enhances residents' quality of life. However, existing studies have largely overlooked the pivotal role of digital literacy, which enables rural residents to effectively access information and solutions for low-carbon renovations, thereby fostering renovation demand. Drawing on 892 field survey responses from Hainan Province and employing an Oprobit model, this study empirically examines the impact of digital literacy on rural residents' demand for low-carbon housing renovations. The findings reveal three key insights. First, digital literacy exerts a significant positive effect on renovation demand, a conclusion that remains robust after addressing endogeneity and conducting robustness checks. Specifically, digital literacy significantly promotes demand for wall and roof renovations, solar installations, and energy-efficient appliances, though its effect on energy-saving doors and windows is less pronounced. Second, mechanism analysis indicates that low-carbon cognition mediates the relationship between digital literacy and renovation demand. Third, heterogeneity analysis shows that digital literacy is particularly effective in stimulating demand among residents with larger dwelling areas, shorter distances to logistics points, and lower satisfaction with existing housing. These results suggest that governments should prioritize improving rural residents’ digital literacy, thereby strengthening their low-carbon awareness and stimulating greater demand for sustainable housing renovations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104033"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104031
Michael Carolan
Debates over raw milk in the United States are often viewed through a post-truth lens, seen as signs of anti-science attitudes, misinformation, or a lack of scientific understanding. Using data from thirty-eight in-depth interviews with raw milk advocates and participant observations of related events, this paper argues that instead of revealing an epistemic crisis, raw milk advocacy exposes an ontological one rooted in experiences of precariousness, institutional neglect, and the search for community. By combining feminist affect theory—specifically, Ahmed's affective economies, Hochschild's feeling rules, and Berlant's cruel optimism—with insights from critical rural studies, the analysis shows how emotions shape what is considered credible knowledge and which authorities are trusted. These affective geographies help explain why raw milk has become a point of connection across seemingly different perspectives, a dynamic called diagonalism: alliances that go beyond traditional political categories. By exploring how raw milk advocacy serves as a way for individuals to express vulnerability, distrust, and hopes for independence and care, the paper challenges deficit-model interventions that focus on correcting facts or boosting scientific literacy. The findings are then used to enrich debates in rural studies by demonstrating how phenomena central to this subfield, including issues like insecurity and corporate power, foster similar diagonal political alliances. The paper concludes by reflecting on how the analysis could be leveraged when approaching these parallel discussions beyond the U.S. context.
{"title":"Precarity, belonging, and diagonalism: Rethinking raw milk advocacy beyond post-truth narratives","authors":"Michael Carolan","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Debates over raw milk in the United States are often viewed through a post-truth lens, seen as signs of anti-science attitudes, misinformation, or a lack of scientific understanding. Using data from thirty-eight in-depth interviews with raw milk advocates and participant observations of related events, this paper argues that instead of revealing an epistemic crisis, raw milk advocacy exposes an ontological one rooted in experiences of precariousness, institutional neglect, and the search for community. By combining feminist affect theory—specifically, Ahmed's affective economies, Hochschild's feeling rules, and Berlant's cruel optimism—with insights from critical rural studies, the analysis shows how emotions shape what is considered credible knowledge and which authorities are trusted. These affective geographies help explain why raw milk has become a point of connection across seemingly different perspectives, a dynamic called diagonalism: alliances that go beyond traditional political categories. By exploring how raw milk advocacy serves as a way for individuals to express vulnerability, distrust, and hopes for independence and care, the paper challenges deficit-model interventions that focus on correcting facts or boosting scientific literacy. The findings are then used to enrich debates in rural studies by demonstrating how phenomena central to this subfield, including issues like insecurity and corporate power, foster similar diagonal political alliances. The paper concludes by reflecting on how the analysis could be leveraged when approaching these parallel discussions beyond the U.S. context.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104031"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104030
Heng Zhou , Xingru He , Jun Huang
China's digital economy ranks second globally and has significantly penetrated agriculture and rural areas, leading to the differentiation and transformation of rural spaces. As mature rural digital economic entities, Taobao villages constitute a critical focus for systematic research. Exploring their spatial differentiation characteristics and driving mechanisms is crucial for mitigating the disorder of living spaces in digital rural areas. This study focuses on Taobao villages in Shandong Province and employs a comparative analysis of Taobao and non-Taobao villages (villages excluding Taobao villages). It aims to summarize the spatiotemporal differentiation patterns of settlements, reveal the driving forces behind their spatial expansion and contraction, and propose spatial planning strategies for Taobao village settlements. The findings indicate the following: (1) During the "hatching-growth stage", the settlements of Taobao villages undergo continuous agglomeration and contraction, followed by slow expansion in the "growth-maturity stage". (2) While the digital economy has fostered Taobao villages, the expansion and contraction of their settlements are shaped by multiple factors. Socio-economic and digital economic factors are the primary drivers of Taobao village settlement expansion, whereas agricultural, socio-economic, and physical geographical factors dominate their contraction. (3) Both the contraction and expansion of Taobao village settlements demonstrate a polarized driving mechanism. For example, Taobao village settlements are more likely to contract in areas with low agricultural output and poor transportation accessibility, as well as in regions with high agricultural output and developed economies. (4) Significant differences exist in the spatial differentiation characteristics and driving mechanisms of settlements between Taobao villages and non-Taobao villages. Differentiated construction land control strategies should be adopted based on the different development stages of Taobao villages to facilitate their agglomerated development. This study provided a comparative analysis of the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics and driving mechanisms of Taobao and non-Taobao villages, offering scientific support for the spatial management of Taobao village settlements.
{"title":"Spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics and driving mechanisms of Taobao village settlements: A case study in Shandong province, China","authors":"Heng Zhou , Xingru He , Jun Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China's digital economy ranks second globally and has significantly penetrated agriculture and rural areas, leading to the differentiation and transformation of rural spaces. As mature rural digital economic entities, Taobao villages constitute a critical focus for systematic research. Exploring their spatial differentiation characteristics and driving mechanisms is crucial for mitigating the disorder of living spaces in digital rural areas. This study focuses on Taobao villages in Shandong Province and employs a comparative analysis of Taobao and non-Taobao villages (villages excluding Taobao villages). It aims to summarize the spatiotemporal differentiation patterns of settlements, reveal the driving forces behind their spatial expansion and contraction, and propose spatial planning strategies for Taobao village settlements. The findings indicate the following: (1) During the \"hatching-growth stage\", the settlements of Taobao villages undergo continuous agglomeration and contraction, followed by slow expansion in the \"growth-maturity stage\". (2) While the digital economy has fostered Taobao villages, the expansion and contraction of their settlements are shaped by multiple factors. Socio-economic and digital economic factors are the primary drivers of Taobao village settlement expansion, whereas agricultural, socio-economic, and physical geographical factors dominate their contraction. (3) Both the contraction and expansion of Taobao village settlements demonstrate a polarized driving mechanism. For example, Taobao village settlements are more likely to contract in areas with low agricultural output and poor transportation accessibility, as well as in regions with high agricultural output and developed economies. (4) Significant differences exist in the spatial differentiation characteristics and driving mechanisms of settlements between Taobao villages and non-Taobao villages. Differentiated construction land control strategies should be adopted based on the different development stages of Taobao villages to facilitate their agglomerated development. This study provided a comparative analysis of the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics and driving mechanisms of Taobao and non-Taobao villages, offering scientific support for the spatial management of Taobao village settlements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104030"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104029
John Pickering , Shawna Hopper , Andrew Wister
Background
Social isolation and loneliness pose significant public health challenges for older adults in rural areas, where geographic remoteness and limited services intensify these issues. The COVID-19 pandemic further magnified these challenges, highlighting the importance of community-based solutions. This study examines the role of the Hardy Bay Senior Citizens Society in mitigating social isolation and loneliness among older adults in the rural community of Port Hardy, British Columbia.
Methods
A qualitative case study was conducted with 24 in-depth interviews involving 25 members of the Hardy Bay Senior Citizens Society. Semi-structured interviews explored participants' experiences with social isolation and loneliness and the centre's role in providing support during the pandemic. Thematic analysis was employed using NVivo software, and themes were refined through collaborative researcher triangulation.
Results
Four key themes emerged: rural social integration and community belonging, emotional and practical support in rural settings, meaningful engagement and leadership, and rural resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings emphasize the centre's role as a vital social hub, particularly in rural areas where isolation is exacerbated by limited infrastructure. Our findings also highlight how the centre mobilised existing rural social strengths, including neighbourliness and mutual support, to mitigate social isolation and loneliness.
Conclusions
This study underscores the critical importance of rural seniors' centres in addressing social isolation and loneliness, particularly in times of crisis. Findings point to the value of sustained support for rural senior centres, which foster community resilience, intergenerational support, and reduced isolation.
{"title":"The role of seniors' centres in mitigating social isolation and loneliness among older adults in rural areas: A case study of the Hardy Bay Senior Citizens Society","authors":"John Pickering , Shawna Hopper , Andrew Wister","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Social isolation and loneliness pose significant public health challenges for older adults in rural areas, where geographic remoteness and limited services intensify these issues. The COVID-19 pandemic further magnified these challenges, highlighting the importance of community-based solutions. This study examines the role of the Hardy Bay Senior Citizens Society in mitigating social isolation and loneliness among older adults in the rural community of Port Hardy, British Columbia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A qualitative case study was conducted with 24 in-depth interviews involving 25 members of the Hardy Bay Senior Citizens Society. Semi-structured interviews explored participants' experiences with social isolation and loneliness and the centre's role in providing support during the pandemic. Thematic analysis was employed using NVivo software, and themes were refined through collaborative researcher triangulation.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Four key themes emerged: rural social integration and community belonging, emotional and practical support in rural settings, meaningful engagement and leadership, and rural resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings emphasize the centre's role as a vital social hub, particularly in rural areas where isolation is exacerbated by limited infrastructure. Our findings also highlight how the centre mobilised existing rural social strengths, including neighbourliness and mutual support, to mitigate social isolation and loneliness.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study underscores the critical importance of rural seniors' centres in addressing social isolation and loneliness, particularly in times of crisis. Findings point to the value of sustained support for rural senior centres, which foster community resilience, intergenerational support, and reduced isolation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104029"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104012
Kongxi Zhu
Amid accelerating globalization and urbanization, ethnic minority areas worldwide confront multifaceted challenges including economic stagnation, ecological degradation, and cultural erosion. China's Rural Revitalization Strategy presents new developmental opportunities for these regions, where economic transformation approaches that promote ecological civilization have become crucial. However, existing research rarely constructs comprehensive frameworks that leverage characteristic plant industries to promote rural revitalization, and particularly lacks cross-regional comparative validation. This study addressed this gap by focusing on Yunnan Province—a region renowned for its exceptional plant diversity and rich ethnic composition. Through the integrated application of semi-structured interviews, Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), we developed and validated a comprehensive framework organized around six core themes: Commercial Crop Cultivation, Innovation and Development in Botanical Craftsmanship, Phyto-Food Processing, Medicinal Botany and Health Products, Indigenous Cultural Heritage and Ecotourism, and Community Economy and Agronomic Technology. The framework's robustness and transferability were systematically examined through comparative case studies in Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Oaxaca (Mexico), demonstrating its cross-cultural adaptability and scalability. Our findings revealed that successful revitalization requires the strategic integration of all six thematic dimensions, with Community Economy and Agronomic Technology identified as the most critical driver. This research provides both theoretical foundations and practical guidance for policymakers and communities in ethnic minority areas worldwide, offering a validated pathway toward sustainable, culturally-grounded, and economically viable rural development through characteristic plant industries.
{"title":"Promoting rural revitalization in ethnic minority areas through characteristic plant industries: A comprehensive development framework from Yunnan with cross-regional comparative insights","authors":"Kongxi Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amid accelerating globalization and urbanization, ethnic minority areas worldwide confront multifaceted challenges including economic stagnation, ecological degradation, and cultural erosion. China's Rural Revitalization Strategy presents new developmental opportunities for these regions, where economic transformation approaches that promote ecological civilization have become crucial. However, existing research rarely constructs comprehensive frameworks that leverage characteristic plant industries to promote rural revitalization, and particularly lacks cross-regional comparative validation. This study addressed this gap by focusing on Yunnan Province—a region renowned for its exceptional plant diversity and rich ethnic composition. Through the integrated application of semi-structured interviews, Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), we developed and validated a comprehensive framework organized around six core themes: Commercial Crop Cultivation, Innovation and Development in Botanical Craftsmanship, Phyto-Food Processing, Medicinal Botany and Health Products, Indigenous Cultural Heritage and Ecotourism, and Community Economy and Agronomic Technology. The framework's robustness and transferability were systematically examined through comparative case studies in Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Oaxaca (Mexico), demonstrating its cross-cultural adaptability and scalability. Our findings revealed that successful revitalization requires the strategic integration of all six thematic dimensions, with Community Economy and Agronomic Technology identified as the most critical driver. This research provides both theoretical foundations and practical guidance for policymakers and communities in ethnic minority areas worldwide, offering a validated pathway toward sustainable, culturally-grounded, and economically viable rural development through characteristic plant industries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104012"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The promotion of ecological agricultural technologies is essential for transforming rural economies and optimising production systems. Nevertheless, previous studies have rarely explored how multiple dimensions of the digital economy collectively empower ecological agriculture. Thus, this study investigates the impact of the digital economy, including digital sale, digital finance and digital production, on the adoption of ecological agricultural technologies among rural households in China. The findings show that digital finance is adopted more widely than digital sale and digital production. Adoption rates of ecological agricultural technologies vary, with relatively high uptake in straw comprehensive utilisation and pesticide packaging recycling. Notably, digital finance has a significant positive effect on the adoption of ecological agricultural technologies, especially for organic fertiliser application and straw comprehensive utilisation. Furthermore, a significant interaction between digital finance and digital sale suggests a reinforcing relationship that further enhances technology adoption. Socio–demographic and institutional factors, including age, village cadre status, health conditions and cooperative membership, also influence adoption. Intermediary institutions, such as E–commerce companies and agricultural cooperatives, play a crucial mediating role by facilitating market access and information dissemination. Regional heterogeneity is evident, with the digital economy's effects differing markedly across eastern, central and western China. By highlighting the interactive effects of digital tools, institutional mediation and regional heterogeneity, this study provides evidence–based foundation for promoting sustainable agricultural transformation.
{"title":"Digital economy–driven empowerment of ecological agricultural technologies in rural China: Implications for sustainable agricultural transformation","authors":"Peiheng Yu , Xiangzheng Deng , Youlin Chen , Yiyun Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104032","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The promotion of ecological agricultural technologies is essential for transforming rural economies and optimising production systems. Nevertheless, previous studies have rarely explored how multiple dimensions of the digital economy collectively empower ecological agriculture. Thus, this study investigates the impact of the digital economy, including digital sale, digital finance and digital production, on the adoption of ecological agricultural technologies among rural households in China. The findings show that digital finance is adopted more widely than digital sale and digital production. Adoption rates of ecological agricultural technologies vary, with relatively high uptake in straw comprehensive utilisation and pesticide packaging recycling. Notably, digital finance has a significant positive effect on the adoption of ecological agricultural technologies, especially for organic fertiliser application and straw comprehensive utilisation. Furthermore, a significant interaction between digital finance and digital sale suggests a reinforcing relationship that further enhances technology adoption. Socio–demographic and institutional factors, including age, village cadre status, health conditions and cooperative membership, also influence adoption. Intermediary institutions, such as E–commerce companies and agricultural cooperatives, play a crucial mediating role by facilitating market access and information dissemination. Regional heterogeneity is evident, with the digital economy's effects differing markedly across eastern, central and western China. By highlighting the interactive effects of digital tools, institutional mediation and regional heterogeneity, this study provides evidence–based foundation for promoting sustainable agricultural transformation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104032"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104007
Annabel Oosterwijk , Hatem Chouchane, Mark Ryan, Katrine Soma
Precision agriculture (PA) technologies are widely promoted for their potential to enhance sustainability, efficiency, and resilience in agricultural systems. However, few studies critically assess whether these promises hold in practice, particularly in rural contexts facing infrastructure and resource constraints. The main aim of this paper is to identify environmental, economic, and social (E-E-S) impacts of PA technologies in crop farming, and convergences and divergences between theory and practice. A literature review of E-E-S impacts of PA technologies was combined with an empirical assessment of a multi-robot sensor-based irrigation system deployed on a smallholder farm in the Isles of Scilly, a remote rural island community in the UK. By comparing the expectations documented in the literature with modelled impacts from the case study, this paper identifies areas of convergence and divergence between technological promise and real-world potential in a rural setting. The results reveal several trade-offs between literature expectations and the case study outcomes: although sensor-based irrigation reduced water demand by 23 %, the system's electricity use significantly increased, amplifying carbon emissions; anticipated labour savings were offset by the need for specialized supervision, raising operational costs; and while the literature often highlights community benefits, in practice the social impact remained limited in the case study, with no major changes expected in areas such as worker health and safety or systematic issues like dependency on platforms or agritech providers. This study contributes critical insights for rural social science into the conditions under which PA can support more context-responsive, equitable, and sustainable adoption, highlighting that realizing its full value requires attention not only to technical performance but also to energy trade-offs, cost-effectiveness, and broader societal impacts for smallholder and remote rural communities.
{"title":"Environmental, economic, and social impacts of precision agricultural technology: Convergences and divergences between theory and practice","authors":"Annabel Oosterwijk , Hatem Chouchane, Mark Ryan, Katrine Soma","doi":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jrurstud.2026.104007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Precision agriculture (PA) technologies are widely promoted for their potential to enhance sustainability, efficiency, and resilience in agricultural systems. However, few studies critically assess whether these promises hold in practice, particularly in rural contexts facing infrastructure and resource constraints. The main aim of this paper is to identify environmental, economic, and social (E-E-S) impacts of PA technologies in crop farming, and convergences and divergences between theory and practice. A literature review of E-E-S impacts of PA technologies was combined with an empirical assessment of a multi-robot sensor-based irrigation system deployed on a smallholder farm in the Isles of Scilly, a remote rural island community in the UK. By comparing the expectations documented in the literature with modelled impacts from the case study, this paper identifies areas of convergence and divergence between technological promise and real-world potential in a rural setting. The results reveal several trade-offs between literature expectations and the case study outcomes: although sensor-based irrigation reduced water demand by 23 %, the system's electricity use significantly increased, amplifying carbon emissions; anticipated labour savings were offset by the need for specialized supervision, raising operational costs; and while the literature often highlights community benefits, in practice the social impact remained limited in the case study, with no major changes expected in areas such as worker health and safety or systematic issues like dependency on platforms or agritech providers. This study contributes critical insights for rural social science into the conditions under which PA can support more context-responsive, equitable, and sustainable adoption, highlighting that realizing its full value requires attention not only to technical performance but also to energy trade-offs, cost-effectiveness, and broader societal impacts for smallholder and remote rural communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17002,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rural Studies","volume":"123 ","pages":"Article 104007"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103986
Li Ma , Qian Zhang , Shijun Wang , Zhipeng Yang , Lisha Cheng
Urbanisation, land commodification and policy assemblages intersect to redefine the role of farmland in rural residents' livelihoods. This study explores the under-examined question of how the farmland-livelihood nexus impacts vulnerable groups in agricultural restructuring and the potential of farmland as a medium/policy tool for sustainable poverty reduction. A research framework focusing on three key farm characteristics - farmland size, quality, and location - is established. The study focuses on a grain production region of Jilin Province in Northeast China, where significant efforts have been made to reduce rural poverty. Binary and ordinal logistic regressions are used to analyse the survey data collected in 2017-18 from nearly 3,000 vulnerable rural households. The results show that: 1) larger farmland size promotes land cultivation but with a diminishing marginal effect; 2) higher farmland quality favours land transfer; 3) farmland proximity to small towns/large cities facilitates land transfer, but proximity to medium-sized towns promotes land cultivation. Moreover, farmland's role is socially differentiated in rural livelihoods, providing both subsistence security for the vulnerable and transfer dependency for the poorest, with risks of widening inequalities. The study paves the way for future research on nuancing the farmland-livelihood nexus, and it highlights the importance of this understanding for advising poverty reduction work.
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