8242: The development of an integrated modelling system to support decisions on organic farms

Julian, C.; Smith, N; Oglethorpe, David and Wright, J (2002) The development of an integrated modelling system to support decisions on organic farms. Paper presented at UK Organic Research 2002 Conference of the Colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR), University of Wales Aberystwyth, 26-28 March 2002; Published in Powell, Jane and et al., , Eds. Proceedings of the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference, page pp. 161-164. Organic Centre Wales, Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth.

Summary

This paper was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference of the Colloquium of Organic Researchers (COR).
An Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS) is developed which synthesises current understanding of organic farming by means of a multiple objective framework incorporating GIS, biophysical models and socio-economic models of the farming goals. The IDSS uses a multitiered concept of a farming system as a collection of micro-enterprises at the field level, with individual resource endowments, objectives and activities. Farm-level decision drivers trickle down to affect the micro-level field enterprise selection. Biophysical models describe typical forage, cereal, root and legume output and a user-friendly interfaces permits easy access and output display via a GIS. A prototype of the IDSS framework, being developed as a part of the SAC organic research programme is presented.

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