Limits and Consequences of Agriculture and Food Production: A General Methodology for the Case Studies

Reneau, D., Asseldonk, H. van, & Frohberg, K.K. (1981). Limits and Consequences of Agriculture and Food Production: A General Methodology for the Case Studies. IIASA Working Paper. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: WP-81-015

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Abstract

This paper is one of a series in which the limits and consequences of agricultural production over a long time horizon are explored. A paper by Jaroslav Hirs (forthcoming) provides a general overview of the relationships between agricultural production technologies, resource use, and the environment. Whether the food and agriculture system will be able to meet current and future world agricultural demands is identified as the central question which motivates our examination of these relationships. In other words, what are the important relationships between these areas which will affect the stability and sustainability of the food and agricultural system in the long run. The paper also argues that the analysis must be performed on a national or regional level in the form of case studies because of the location specific nature of some of the key inputs.

The purpose of the present paper is to formulate a general methodology to ensure that the case studies are comparable with one another. Comparability is understood to have elements of both similarity and dissimilarity. To be comparable, the various case studies must be similar in their general outline. That is they must view the problem from the same perspective, and address a similar set of questions. Use of a common modeling approach may further facilitate comparisons. At the same time it is both possible and expected that differences in detail and emphasis will be present within each particular study.

Nonetheless, while it is recognized that each region or nation that will make up an individual case study has some unique features, we believe that all share sufficient common aspects to profit from following a common general methodology.

In order to facilitate the outlining of a general methodology, this paper will be divided into three main sections. A definition and classification section, a section on questions to be addressed, and a section dealing with the proposed recursive dynamic model. The definition and classification section is designed to give a working definition of the region modeled, linkage with the rest of the economy and each of the three aspects of the agricultural system on which the case studies will focus.

The questions section lists, by each aspect, various questions, in general and in particular, that the case studies are expected to answer. The modeling section outlines in block form the proposed model.

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