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The importance of farmer behaviour: an application of Desktop MAS, a multi-agent system model for rural New Zealand communities

Author

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  • Schilling, Chris
  • Kaye-Blake, William
  • Post, Elizabeth
  • Rains, Scott

Abstract

This paper describes a multi-agent system (MAS) model, Desktop MAS, designed for New Zealand‟s pastoral industries. Desktop MAS models the strategic decisions and behaviours of individual farmers in response to changes in their operating environment. Farmer responses determine production, economic and environmental outcomes. Each farmer has a profit-maximising or cost-minimising objective that governs their decision-making, and a social network with whom they interact. Information transfer between farmers occurs through this social network. We consider a simple scenario analysis that investigates the impact of emissions prices on industry mix and farming intensity. We then investigate the importance of farmer behaviours and interaction. We find that farmer social networks and objectives impact particularly on farming intensity decisions within land-use industries. Land-use change between industries becomes more sensitive to farmer attitudes as the profitability differential between land-uses narrows.

Suggested Citation

  • Schilling, Chris & Kaye-Blake, William & Post, Elizabeth & Rains, Scott, 2012. "The importance of farmer behaviour: an application of Desktop MAS, a multi-agent system model for rural New Zealand communities," 2012 Conference, August 31, 2012, Nelson, New Zealand 136070, New Zealand Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:nzar12:136070
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.136070
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Balmann, Alfons & Happe, Kathrin & Kellermann, Konrad & Kleingarn, Anne, 2001. "Adjustment Costs Of Agri-Environmental Policy Switchings - A Multi-Agent Approach," 2001 Annual meeting, August 5-8, Chicago, IL 20506, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    2. Happe, Kathrin & Balmann, Alfons & Kellermann, Konrad, 2004. "The agricultural policy simulator (AgriPoliS): an agent-based model to study structural change in agriculture (Version 1.0)," IAMO Discussion Papers 71, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO).
    3. Balmann, Alfons, 1997. "Farm-Based Modelling of Regional Structural Change: A Cellular Automata Approach," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 24(1), pages 85-108.
    4. Berger, Thomas, 2001. "Agent-based spatial models applied to agriculture: a simulation tool for technology diffusion, resource use changes and policy analysis," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 25(2-3), pages 245-260, September.
    5. Berger, Thomas & Schreinemachers, Pepijn & Woelcke, Johannes, 2006. "Multi-agent simulation for the targeting of development policies in less-favored areas," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 28-43, April.
    6. Suzi Kerr & Alex Olssen, 2012. "Gradual Land-use Change in New Zealand: Results from a Dynamic Econometric Model," Working Papers 12-06, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    7. Happe, Kathrin & Balmann, Alfons, 2008. "Doing Policy In The Lab! Options For The Future Use Of Model-Based Policy Analysis For Complex Decision-Making," 107th Seminar, January 30-February 1, 2008, Sevilla, Spain 6588, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
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    Cited by:

    1. Devotha G. Nyambo & Thomas Clemen, 2023. "Differential Assessment of Strategies to Increase Milk Yield in Small-Scale Dairy Farming Systems Using Multi-Agent Modelling and Simulation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Jo Hendy & Levente Timar & Dominic White, 2018. "Land-use modelling in New Zealand: current practice and future needs," Working Papers 18_16, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.

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    Keywords

    Agribusiness; Community/Rural/Urban Development; Farm Management; Land Economics/Use; Production Economics;
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