This course provides an overview of farm and sector modelling. Students learn how to design, implement and interpret agricultural optimization models applied in the context of agricultural policy evaluations.
Learning objective
Students know the state of the art in agricultural farm and sector modelling. They can interpret results from applied optimization models in science and policy. In addition, the students learn how to practically implement optimization techniques in the simulation of a farm or the agricultural sector. They get insides into the practical challenges of designing, implementing and interpreting optimization models.
Content
There exists a wide range of agricultural simulation models in science and policy evaluations that use optimization techniques. In Switzerland, for instance, the impact of policy reforms on agricultural production and structures is assessed using the SWISSland or the CAPRI model. This course will introduce a broad set of applied optimization models and discuss their advantages and caveats. Based on the theoretical background provided in the course «Optimierung landwirtschaftlicher Produktionssysteme», the students will also make hands-on experience in designing, implementing and interpreting an optimization model.
Lecture notes
Readings and software tutorials are handed out in the course
Performance assessment as a semester course