The document discusses the importance of models in managing agricultural systems, highlighting the role of farm simulation modeling in improving planning capabilities. It emphasizes the significance of understanding systems thinking to address complex agricultural issues, considering the interactions between parts of a system. The document also outlines various management systems standards and contextualizes agricultural systems within natural resource management.

2.  Models are excellent tools to organize
knowledge and help to explore alternative
scenarios for the management of agricultural
systems.
 Farm simulation modelling is assuming
increasing importance; oriented to provide
short‐ and long‐term scenarios, it can be a
useful tool to improve the planning capability
of the agro‐energy farm.

3.  Models have also been useful as a depository
of accumulated knowledge about processes
operating in agricultural ecosystems (eg.
plant growth, soil physics etc).
 When constructing Farming system models
the major consideration was about the Short
versus long-term consequences of
crop/cropping systems management.

4.  A production system (or production rule system)
is a computer program typically used to provide
some form of artificial intelligence, which
consists primarily of a set of rules about
behavior.
 These rules, termed productions, are a
basic representation found useful in automated
planning, expert systems and action selection.
 A production system provides the mechanism
necessary to execute productions in order to
achieve some goal for the system.

5.  A management system is the framework
of processes and procedures used to ensure that
an organization can fulfill all tasks required to
achieve its objectives.
 an environmental management system enables
organizations to improve their environmental
performance through a process of continuous
improvement.
 An oversimplification is "Plan, Do, Check, Act".
 A more complete system would include
accountability (an assignment of personal
responsibility) and a schedule for activities to be
completed

6.  Examples of management system standards
include:
 ISO 9001 Quality Management,
 ISO 14001 Environmental Management,
 ILO-OSH Occupational Safety & Health
Management Systems,
 ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security
Management,
 SA8000 Social Accountability.

7. 

8.  The core idea of systems thinking is that the
whole is different from the sum of the parts.
 System thinking recognizes that it is the
interaction between the parts that give systems
their property of the whole, being different from
the sum of the parts.
 The dilemma is to establish what is the “whole”
you are interested in, so you do not have to solve
all the problems of the universe when tackling a
problem
 but can separate out to manage a complex issue
of interest within a particular ecosystem, farming
system or the like.

9.  Thus there are three levels in any system:
 The system of interest
 Its supra system( environment)
 Sub systems that make up the system

10.  Typically, the smaller units comprising a system
are called subsystems or components, and the
larger unit enclosing a system is called a supra
system or environment.
A supra system is the larger unit comprises
smaller units.
 For example a university has different branches
like Arts, science, computers, math’s etc.,
 each of these branches can be observed as a
smaller unit which functions independently.

11.  A market system is any systematic process
enabling many market players to bid and ask:
helping bidders and sellers interact and make
deals.
 It is not just the mechanism but the entire
systemof regulation,qualification, credentials,
reputations and clearing that surrounds that
mechanism and makes it operate in a social
context.

13.  Agricultural systems are multifunctional
ecosystems that besides food production also
provide ecosystem services.
 Agricultural system management is a major
component of natural resource management
(NRM).
 Farming systems modelling has been
successfully used to develop understanding
of soil–plant–climate interactions and to
assist on-farm decision-making process.

14.  It is an assembly of people and other
resources organized into a whole in order to
accomplish a purpose.
 The people in the system are affected by
being in the system, and by their
participation in the system they affect the
system.
 People in the system select and carry out
activities -- individually and collectively --
that will enable them to attain a collectively
identified purpose.

15.  (1) A system serves the purpose of its
collective entity.
 (2) It serves the purpose of its members.
 (3) It serves its environment ot the larger
system in which it is embedded.

17.  Development of the system from an activity
system perspective involves
 understanding the cultural and historic
factors that have resulted in the present
situation
 clarifying the current 'disturbances' in the
current form of the system - aspects that are
poorly aligned, inadequate, in opposition...
 and then working to resolve.

18.  http://aciar.gov.au/files/node/14068/farming_system_
modelling_and_conservation_agricult_19457.pdf
 Meinke, H. and Stone, R.C., Seasonal and interannual
climate forecasting: the new tool for increasing
preparedness to climate variability and change in
agricultural planning and operations, Climatic Change,
70, 221-253, 2005.
 Francesco Danusoa, Franco Rosab, Alvaro Roccaa and
Elena Bulfoni X- farm: modelling sustainable farming
systems and simulation Department of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, in
Methods and procedures for building sustainable
farming systems

19. Thank u