The impact of the rural digital economy on agricultural carbon emissions and green technological innovation is fragmented, while the influence of the digital economy and carbon emissions on urban and industrial areas has attracted the attention of many scholars. It is necessary to further investigate the relationship between the rural digital economy and its impact on agricultural carbon emissions and green technological innovation. This study explores the impact of agricultural green technological innovation on carbon emissions and its transmission mechanism. It examines the effects of rural digital economy on agricultural carbon emissions, as well as the intermediary effect of agricultural green technology innovation, using panel data from 30 provinces in China (excluding Xizang, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) between 2012 and 2021. The results indicate that the rural digital economy has a significant impact on reducing agricultural carbon emissions. This effect remains robust even after conducting a series of rigorous tests, including substituting the dependent variable. Additionally, the influence of the rural digital economy on agricultural carbon emissions is particularly notable in the western and northeast regions, as well as in provinces with limited levels of rural digital economic growth. Furthermore, promoting innovation in green agricultural technology through the advancement of the digital economy in rural areas can lead to a reduction in carbon emissions from agriculture. The research findings suggest promoting distinctive growth in the rural digital economy, elevating the standard of eco-friendly technology innovation in agriculture, and advancing the eco-friendly and low-carbon progress of both the rural digital economy and agriculture.

Agricultural eco-efficiency is a crucial indicator for assessing the coordinated development of agriculture and the environment. Studying its interaction with economic development levels is beneficial for promoting high-quality agricultural development. Based on panel data from 75 cities in East China from 2000 to 2021, this paper used the SBM model to measure agricultural eco-efficiency, conducted spatial correlation analysis with ArcGIS, calculated economic development level’s scores by the entropy method, assesseed coupling coordination degrees and discussed changes in coupling types by the Tapio decoupling-based coupling index. Results showed that: (1) From 2010 to 2021, overall agricultural eco-efficiency and economic development levels in East China increased annually. Jiangsu Province exhibited a significant gap in agricultural eco-efficiency compared to Anhui and Shandong; similarly, the mean difference in economic development levels widened. (2) In terms of spatial correlation, agricultural eco-efficiency increased from northwest to southeast in East China, with Moran’s I index showing a "decrease-increase-decrease" trend. Economic development level demonstrated spatial agglomeration with closely linked relationships. (3) From the perspective of coupling coordination, urban agglomerations in East China shifted from mostly imbalance to overall coordination in later stages, indicating continuously improving coupling relationships. Therefore, cities in East China should strengthen inter-regional connections, adopt rational layouts, pursue sustainable development, and achieve a win-win situation for ecological environmental protection and economic development.