Decision Support tools
Decision support systems make an important contribution to farming decisions, adding to the vital experience-based knowledge of farmers. The SIP looked at a broad range of decision support tools available to UK farmers and farm advisers, including bespoke software, tools based on generic software (e.g. Excel), email or text alerts, online tools and guidance, phone apps, and paper-based guidance.
The Project compiled a list of tools relevant to UK agriculture, and also conducted focus groups and interviews with farmers and farm advisers across the arable, dairy, and red meat sectors. Of particular interest were attitudes and the identification of key factors affecting the use of such tools in farming decisions.
The identification of these key use factors, and the highlighting of specific examples of effective tools, will help inform future policies about the design, communication, and use of decision support tools in UK agriculture.
The final report for this work can be found here.
The following papers are available:
- Rose, D. C.,Sutherland, W. J., et al., Dicks, L. V. (2018). Integrated farm management for sustainable agriculture: lessons for knowledge exchange and policy, Land Use Policy, Full text (Open access)
- Rose, D. C., Parker, C., Fodey, J., Park, C., Sutherland, W. J., and Dicks, L. V. (2018). Involving stakeholders in agricultural decision support systems: improving user-centred design, International Journal of Agricultural Management 6 (3-4): 80-89
- Rose, D. C., Morris, C., Lobley, M., Winter, M., Sutherland, W. J., and Dicks, L. V. (2018). Exploring the spatialities of technological and user re-scripting: The case of decision support tools in UK agriculture, Geoforum 89 pp. 11-18, Full Text (Open access)
- Rose, D. C., Bruce, T. A. J. (2017) Finding the right connection – what makes a successful decision support system?, Food and Energy Security, Full Text (Open access)
- Rose, D. C., Sutherland, W. J., Parker, C., Lobley, M., Winter, M., Morris, C., Twining, S., Ffoulkes, C., Amano, T., Dicks, L. V. (2016) Decision support tools for agriculture: Towards effective design and delivery, Agricultural Systems 149 pp. 165-174 Full Text (Open access)
Mapping Opportunity and Risk
Dynamic Landscape Typology Tool for England and Wales
The Dynamic Landscape Typology Tool for England and Wales classifies landscapes based on environmental and social-economic characteristics such as soil type, water quality, crop yield, farm economics, cultural and recreational values, and landscape and historical character. These are based on pre-existing sources of data and help policy makers and stakeholders understand opportunities and risks for food production and the environment. The Landscape Typology for England and Wales classifies landscapes based on physical and environmental and social-economic characteristics such as soil type, water quality and crop yield. These are based on pre-existing sources of data and help policy makers and stakeholders understand opportunities and risks for food production and the environment.
The tool and futher information can be found at the following link: https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/apps/sustainable-intensification/info/ and a Science, Policy and Practice note is available here.
