Authors:
Gianfranco Giulioni
1
;
Edmondo Di Giuseppe
2
;
Arianna Di Paola
2
and
Alessandro Ceccarelli
1
Affiliations:
1
Department of Socio-Economic, Management and Statistical Studies “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Viale Pindaro 42, Pescara, Italy
;
2
Institute of BioEconomy, National Research Council, Via Dei Taurini 19, Roma, Italy
Keyword(s):
Farm Crop Management, Mathematical Optimization, Yield-Gap, Cluster Analysis.
Abstract:
This work presents the modeling steps to build a tool for policymakers to orient policies toward more sustainable wheat production. Starting from a sample survey of Italian farms, we identify, with the help of clustering techniques, the farm types present in the sample. The clustering phase reveals a significant heterogeneity among farms that we handle building an agent-based model. Sampling from the clusters allows for including a number of farms comparable to those operating in Italy in the agent-based model. Moreover, we build a mathematical programming model with which farms (i.e., agents) decide the target production level and the mix of inputs needed to obtain such production. Considered inputs are 1) the use of fertilizers, 2) the use of herbicides, and 3) the use of pesticides. Policies are introduced as incentives or deterrents, driving production decisions and the input mix choice towards more sustainable production.