Modelling and simulating work practices in agriculture

Abstract

Research has shown that the managerial capacities and work practices of farmers play a major role in explaining differences in economic and environmental performances. This paper presents a computer simulation framework that enables work organisation issues in agricultural production systems to be studied. This framework relies on a purposive frame-based ontology of such production systems. The paper focuses on a subpart of the ontology that concerns production activities, flexible plans and material resources. The paper also outlines the interpretation algorithms that operate on instances of these ontology concepts in any production system model constructed in compliance with the ontology.