Impact of Artificial Intelligence Technology on the Sustainable Development Performance of Agricultural Enterprises

The wide application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is reshaping the production methods and governance models of agricultural enterprises, laying a solid foundation for them to achieve sustainable development goals. This study examines 245 agricultural listed enterprises on China’s A-share market from 2012 to 2023 as the research sample and uses the double fixed effects model to investigate the impact and mechanism of AI technology on the sustainable development performance (SDP) of agricultural enterprises. Research has found that AI technology has significantly enhanced the SDP of agricultural enterprises. After tests for endogeneity and robustness, the conclusion remains valid. Mechanism tests show that AI technology can enhance the SDP of agricultural enterprises by promoting green innovation and improving the quality of internal control. Through the analysis of moderating effects, it is found that both the information technology background of senior executives and their green background can positively moderate the relationship between AI technology and the SDP of agricultural enterprises. Heterogeneity tests revealed that AI technology has a more significant effect on enhancing the SDP of non-state-owned, small and medium-sized, and processing and manufacturing agricultural enterprises, alongside those in regions with high environmental regulations. The research provides empirical evidence for AI empowering agricultural enterprises’ sustainable development and offers targeted actionable insights to advance agricultural modernization and green transformation.