The roles and future perspectives of modeling in agricultural systems research
2017
Hirooka, H. (Kyoto University, Kyoto (Japan). Department of Agriculture)
Agricultural systems research has evolved over the last 50 or more years and modeling has been an essential tool which is accomplished from a wide range of disciplines. In this article, the brief history and future perspectives of agricultural systems modeling were summarized and discussed. First, the differences between empirical research approaches with laboratory experiments and systems approaches with modeling and simulation experiments were described. Secondly, the history of agricultural system modeling was overlooked in Japan and overseas and the two purposes of model development were identified; scientific understanding of plant (crop) and animal production systems at ecosystem, community (herd), individual, cell and gene levels and providing information for supporting decision and policy making in agricultural systems at farm, regional, national and global levels. The new research topics to which agricultural system research will be contribute in the future were proposed; (1) development of integrated models for agricultural systems, sustainable food systems and food security systems and (2) development of models using information at molecular level based on system biology.
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