The integrated agro-economic modelling platform (iMAP) – a challenging experiment

The main objective of this paper is to describe and analyse the challenges of an integrated economic modelling for policy support. The quantitative analysis and assessment of agricultural, rural development and related policies (e.g. trade, energy, environment, and climate change) is an important contribution to the policy-making process in these areas. Economic models are widely applied in the analysis of the agricultural sector, with a particular focus on its specific characteristics as provider of food, feed and fibre and now increasing energy, its role for income in the rural economy and environmental effects linked to agricultural production. To guarantee a timely, confidential, tailor-made and scientifically-sound support, a modelling platform (iMAP) at Commission's premises has been built up at including main partial and general equilibrium models. The paper analyses several challenges for a continuous and output-oriented concept of such a modelling platform. The portfolio of models and their (soft)linkages in recent applications are presented and discussed with regard to future modelling questions. The crucial issue of data and maintenance work in economic modelling in a publication-focussed environment is elaborated. Finally, the paper debates the institutional setting as an economic research platform between academia and policy-making.