Abstract:
Drawing on dynamic capability theory, this study uses data from Chinese listed agricultural enterprises from 2010 to 2024, constructs an artificial intelligence dictionary tailored to agricultural enterprises, and employs two-way fixed effects models and double machine learning to examine the impact of artificial intelligence on the innovation capability of agricultural enterprises. The results show that artificial intelligence significantly enhances the innovation capability of agricultural enterprises, with an estimated elasticity of 0.137 in the baseline regression. This finding remains robust after a series of robustness checks and endogeneity treatments. Mechanism analysis indicates that knowledge creation and knowledge recombination are important channels through which artificial intelligence enhances the innovation capability of agricultural enterprises. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the innovation-enhancing effect of artificial intelligence is more pronounced in large enterprises and non-state-owned enterprises, while no significant differences are observed among enterprises with different levels of growth. The effect is also relatively stronger in regions with higher levels of intellectual property protection, lower topographic relief, and greater disaster severity. Analysis of innovation paths and modes shows that artificial intelligence promotes both breakthrough innovation and incremental innovation, with a stronger effect on incremental innovation. Artificial intelligence significantly promotes independent innovation, whereas its effect on collaborative innovation is not statistically significant. Based on these findings, efforts should be made to accelerate the deep application of artificial intelligence in agricultural enterprises, improve supporting conditions such as data, talent, and digital infrastructure, implement tiered and targeted support policies, and coordinate the development of incremental and breakthrough innovation to continuously enhance the innovation capability and market competitiveness of agricultural enterprises.