Final Report Summary - SEAMLESS (System for Environmental and Agricultural Modelling; Linking European Science and Society)
The 'System for Environmental and Agricultural Modelling; Linking European Science and Society' (Seamless) integrated project aimed at developing an integrated framework that allows ex-ante assessment of agricultural and environmental policies and technological innovations. The framework has multi-scale capabilities ranging from field and farm to the EU25 and globe; it is modular and open and uses state-of-the art software. The project was carried out by a consortium of 30 partners, led by Wageningen University.
The project had the overall aims to overcome fragmentation in European efforts of modelling agricultural systems, and to provide a better information basis for impact assessment of agricultural and environmental policies. It has developed a computerised and integrated framework (Seamless-IF) to assess and compare, ex-ante, alternative agricultural and environmental policy options.
Seamless-IF facilitates translation of policy questions into alternative scenarios that can be assessed through a set of indicators that capture the key economic, environmental, social and institutional issues of the questions at stake. The indicators in turn are assessed using an intelligent linkage of quantitative models. These models have been designed to simulate aspects of agricultural systems at specific scales, i.e. point or field scale, farm, regional, and European scales. Application of the models uses a pan-European database for environmental, economic and social issues. Some indicators, particularly social and institutional ones, are assessed directly from data or via a post-model analysis.
The project had the overall aims to overcome fragmentation in European efforts of modelling agricultural systems, and to provide a better information basis for impact assessment of agricultural and environmental policies. It has developed a computerised and integrated framework (Seamless-IF) to assess and compare, ex-ante, alternative agricultural and environmental policy options.
Seamless-IF facilitates translation of policy questions into alternative scenarios that can be assessed through a set of indicators that capture the key economic, environmental, social and institutional issues of the questions at stake. The indicators in turn are assessed using an intelligent linkage of quantitative models. These models have been designed to simulate aspects of agricultural systems at specific scales, i.e. point or field scale, farm, regional, and European scales. Application of the models uses a pan-European database for environmental, economic and social issues. Some indicators, particularly social and institutional ones, are assessed directly from data or via a post-model analysis.
