Bridging the gap between models and users: A lightweight mobile interface for optimized farming decisions in interactive modeling sessions,Agricultural Systems

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Bridging the gap between models and users: A lightweight mobile interface for optimized farming decisions in interactive modeling sessions
Agricultural Systems ( IF 6.1 ) Pub Date : 2021-11-12 , DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103315
Johannes Mössinger ₁ , Christian Troost ₂ , Thomas Berger ₂

Affiliation

CONTEXT

Whole-farm mathematical programming (MP) models help to understand the complex implications of farm planning decisions taking the full agricultural system into account. Applying optimization models in direct interaction with farmers goes beyond leading to improved recommendations for mixed crop-livestock farm systems. The tacit farmer knowledge revealed in such interaction sessions can also provide valuable input for descriptive and predictive models of farmer behavior in scientific analyses of agricultural policy or technology adoption. To date, a conceptual and technical knowledge divide has prevented the widespread use of MP in interactive modeling with farmers in the field.

OBJECTIVE

This article revisits the rationale for interactive MP modeling and explores whether it can be upheld in practice. We evaluate whether a lightweight graphical interface that can be quickly adapted to practical applications of whole-farm planning can help bridge the gap between models and users.

METHODS

We present a user interface for whole-farm MP models implemented in the open-source statistical programming language R. We apply the tool in a participatory research process in Paraguay, analyzing the opportunities and barriers to adoption of new agroforestry options for smallholder farmers. Using in-depth interviews and participant feedback, we evaluate the tool's accessibility, credibility and relevance as well as its contribution to bridging knowledge gaps in the overall research process.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

In our explorative case study, interactive MP modeling provided essential insights into the local farming system and was highly accepted by smallholder farmers and extension workers. We observed a high interest in structured farm analysis, planning and education for smallholder agriculture. The lightweight user interface contributed to efficient and successful interaction between models and users.

SIGNIFICANCE

Interactive modeling helps to improve the application of whole-farm MP modeling in agricultural systems analysis. Case study examples and a quickly customizable interface can lower the barriers for using interactive MP modeling with farmers and other stakeholders. With the recent wave of digitalization in agriculture, the insights obtained here are also relevant for the development of digital farm management tools for systematic whole-farm planning.

中文翻译：

弥合模型和用户之间的差距：用于在交互式建模会话中优化农业决策的轻量级移动界面

语境

全农场数学规划 (MP) 模型有助于理解将整个农业系统考虑在内的农场规划决策的复杂含义。在与农民的直接互动中应用优化模型不仅可以改进对作物-畜牧混合农场系统的建议。在此类互动会议中揭示的隐性农民知识还可以为农业政策或技术采用的科学分析中农民行为的描述性和预测性模型提供有价值的输入。迄今为止，概念和技术知识的鸿沟阻碍了 MP 在与田间农民互动建模中的广泛使用。