A return on experience from the application of agent-based simulations coupled with life cycle assessment to model agricultural processes
Authored by Enrico Benetto, Antonino Marvuglia, Sameer Rege, Tomas Navarrete Gutierrez, Laureen Vanni, Didier Stilmant
Date Published: 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.150
Sponsors:
Luxembourg National Research Fund
Platforms:
Java
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Flow charts
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Agent-Based Models (ABMs) are becoming a widespread approach to model
human-environment interactions. They belong to the class of
individual-based modelling approaches, which allow a bottom-up
representation of the system being modelled, eliciting its macro-level
evolution while modelling the micro-level behavior of its individuals.
This paper deals with the application of an ABM to simulate future crop
patterns in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg under a pre-defined scenario.
The simulated scenario deals with the introduction of a ``green
consciousness{''} component in farmers' decisions, substituting a purely
rational approach based only on profit maximization. The results of the
ABM are used to perform a life cycle assessment of Luxembourg's
agricultural system. The paper first describes the difficulties and the
challenges connected with building an ABM for agriculture and then shows
the results of the selected case study. The results show that, from a
lifecycle perspective, a ``greenness{''} criterion aimed only at
reducing greenhouse gases emissions reveals patently a sub-optimal
choice and causes burden shifts to other impact categories. Finally the
ABM-based (bottom-up) approach is compared with a top-down approach
applied in a previous study by the same authors to model the same
system. Assets and drawbacks of the two approaches are highlighted. (C)
2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tags
Agent-based model
Complexity
Land-use
Policy
Multi-agent simulation
systems
Agricultural policy
bottom-up model
Science
Decisions
Framework
Challenges
Lessons
Life cycle
assessment (lca)
Green consciousness