User:JohnDow68/MODAM (bio-economic model)

Definition

MODAM is a bio-economic modelling system that functions as Multi-Objective Decision support tool for Agro-ecosystem Management.

It simulates farmers´ decision behaviour under the assumption of pure economic rationality. The model is a static, mixed integer, linear programming model, which was developed to evaluate policy effects on the decision behaviour of farmers and on the corresponding environmental effects of the farmer chosen farm management practices. The tool allows to calculate scenarios for different goal attainment levels (so called goal driven scenarios) as well as the computation of scenarios of different policy instruments (policy driven scenarios, see: Scenario analysis).

Composition

MODAM consists of a set of hierarchically linked modules, which can be divided up into three levels:

• Descriptive data Collection
• Partial Economic and Ecological Impact analyses
• Integrated farm level analyses

MODAM - Level One: Descriptive Data Collection

At first level int the modelling process, the available data is collected and goals and restrictions for the system to be described are defined:

1. production activities are described using the MODAM set editor so an economic and environmental analysis of these techniques can be performed
2. the economic and environmental goals are defined,
3. the site specific characteristics are recorded with special regard to the environmental goals in the focus of research,
4. the available farm resources are assessed.

MODAM - Level Two: Partial Economic and Ecological Impact analyses

The second level performs partial analyses of the production practices for their economic as well as environmental costs and benefits. The economic evaluation is performed using the dataset from the set editor where all production practices are linked to their costs and revenues for every step in the production process. The ecological evaluation is performed using a fuzzy tool to calculate an index of goal attainment for every single environmental objective in the actual modelling process.

MODAM - Level Three: Integrated Farm Level Analyses

At the third level, the integrated analysis is conducted, based on multiple goal linear programming (LP) farm models, which are build by a LP-generator.
The LP-generator allows for the construction of individual farm models, as well as farm types or regional models. Crop rotations for individual sites can be generated and visualised by geographic information systems. Essential innovations at LP-level are the introduction of environmental restrictions and, in the future, the introduction of full costs of policy instruments.

More Information

More information is available at the MODAM homepage http://www.modam.eu