Abstract: The dynamic SBM-DEA model considering undesired outputs was constructed to measure the agricultural ecological efficiency at provincial level in China from 2013 to 2022. On this basis, the dynamic fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method was used to investigate the multi-factor linkage effects of the digital innovation environment, digital innovation subjects and digital innovation resources in the digital innovation ecosystem on improving agricultural ecological efficiency, and to explore the pluralistic paths to improve agricultural ecological efficiency in China. The results showed that the agricultural ecological efficiency in China showed an overall increasing trend from 2013 to 2022, with significant differences among regions. The order of the agricultural ecological efficiency in China from high to low was the eastern region, the central region and the western region. Four development models that led to high agricultural ecological efficiency were identified, which were policy capital driven type, digital technology driven type, full factor driven type, and industrial integration driven type. Although the four development models did not have obvious temporal effects, they had significant regional effects. Provinces did not follow a consistent configuration path in achieving high agricultural ecological efficiency. Each region should choose the right development path and adopt differentiated strategies to promote the improvement of regional agricultural ecological efficiency with the development of the digital innovation ecosystem.

Key words: digital innovation ecosystem, agricultural ecological efficiency, configuration analysis, dynamic fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method