Spatio-temporal evolution and environmental effect of agricultural green innovation networks in China

Based on agricultural green patent cooperation data spanning from 2000 to 2023 across 333 prefecture-level administrative regions in China, this study employs social network analysis, GIS spatial analysis, and panel regression models to uncover the spatio-temporal evolution patterns and environmental effect mechanisms of the agricultural green innovation network. The findings indicate that: 1) The agricultural green innovation network has undergone 3 phases of development: “initiation, expansion, and optimization”, gradually evolving into a balanced structure characterized by “traditional core cities leading with multi-regional centers coordinating”; 2) The core-periphery structure has shifted from a “regional single-core” to a “multi-core radiation” model, with cities in central and western regions progressively integrating into the core area. The network density and connectivity have seen significant enhancements, albeit the overall network remains in its nascent stage; 3) The strength of the agricultural green innovation network exhibits a notable positive influence on green total factor productivity. Green technology innovation efficiency and agricultural industrial structure optimization serve as partial mediators. The agricultural green innovation network enhances environmental benefits through technology diffusion and industrial synergy pathways. This research offers a theoretical framework for the “technology-space-environment” synergy in facilitating the green transformation of regional agriculture, thereby aiding the synchronized achievement of Rural Revitalization and the “dual carbon” targets.