TOOLKIT•One of the main activities of ICASA is to develop computer models and decision support systems for agricultural and environmental applications. The main component of the current toolkit is the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT).

•DSSAT has been adopted by more than1200 scientists in more than 90 countries.

• DSSAT includes:Biophysical models, including CERES, CROPGRO, SUBSTOR, CROPSIM, that simulate growth and development and predict yield for more than 17 crops. The main crops include wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, millet, soybean, drybean, peanut, chickpea,cowpea, potato, cassava, tomato, sugarcane, and sunflower

Utilities for handling of weather, soil, experimental and genotype dataApplication programs to conduct risk analysis of biophysical, environmental and economic variablesCrop rotation analyzerPrecision agriculture analyzerRegional impact assessment tool linking GIS and models

•Other toolkit components include:Farm System SimulatorYield Forecast ToolsFamine Early Warning SystemEl Niño Climate PredictionPCYieldRegional PlanningModel Development and Training Tools

•Future Tools:Linkage of crop and animal models for livestock systemsWatershed management strategic planning toolDevelopment of models for other crops, such as pea,faba bean, velvetbean, cabbage, pepper, pineapple, banana, etc.Climate prediction application tools

International Consortium for Agricultural Systems Applicationshttp://www.ICASAnet.org

WHAT IS ICASA ?•A Global Network of participating scientists and institutions.

•Cooperation of scientists to facilitate the development of systems approaches and tools.

•Application of computer and system tools for decision making and policy development related to agricultural production systems, resource management, food security, and sustainable development.

BACKGROUND•ICASA combines the former International Benchmark Sites Network for Agrotechnology Transfer (IBSNAT) project with the Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU) and the Center for Agrobiological Research (CABO).

•ICASA was initiated in 1991 during the first Symposium on Systems Approaches for Agricultural Development (SAAD), held in Bangkok, Thailand.

•In 1998 the Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit (APSRU), Australia was invited to join ICASA.

•ICASA is governed by a Board of Directors. The current co-Chairs are Jim Jones, University of Florida and Johan Bouma, Wageningen University.

MEMBERS•Participating Centers from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Researchinclude IFDC, Alabama, USA; ILRI,Kenya; CIMMYTMexico; IRRI,Philippines;CIP, Peru;ICRISAT, India;CIAT, Colombia;and IBSRAM, Thailand.

•Participating NationalAgricultural ResearchCenters includeEMPRABA, Brazil;Agricultural Research Council, South Africa; INTA, Argentina; KARI, Kenya; and several others.

•Participating International Universities include Chiang Mai University, Thailand, Wageningen University, University of Guelph, University of Buenos Aires and the Australian National University.

•Participating USUniversities include theUniversity of Hawaii,University of Florida, the

TRAINING•A major activity includes training of scientists and others on the use and application of computer simulation models and decision support systems.

Recent workshops:• February 21 - March 3, 2000. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. Computer simulation for crop growth and resource management.

• May 17 - 29, 1999. International Fertilizer Development Center. Computer simulation of crop growth and management responses.

• March 9 - 14, 1998. University of Florida. Optimizing management for precision farming: a systems approach.

CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA and WORKSHOPS•ICASA organizes and cosponsors conferences, symposia and workshops to improve the dissemination of systems science and applications, to share decision support tools and computer models, and to exchange ideas on the advancement of systems analysis.

Recent and future activities:•November 5 - 9, 2000. Crop models in research and practice: a symposium honoring Professor J.T. Ritchie.

•August 4 - 7, 2000. International Workshop on the CANEGRO simulation model.

•November 8 - 10, 1999. CIP, Peru. Third Symposium on System Approaches

University of Georgia, Michigan State University, Columbia University, Iowa State University, University of Nebraska, North Carolina State University and the University of Puerto Rico.

for Agricultural Development (SAAD-3).

•1997, 1998, and 1999. Open Forum at the ASA Annual Meetings to exchange ideas related to ICASA activities.

DATA STANDARDS•The IBSNAT project developed data file structures and standards to be used for both experimental documentation and model input.

•These files have been used by experimenters and modelers as part of the DSSAT system.

•The standards were also adopted by the Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystem (GCTE) project for documenting experiments and model comparisons.

•ICASA has revised and improved the existing DSSAT standards for a wider range of applications.

•Tools are currently being developed to convert the existing data files as

MODULAR MODEL DEVELOPMENT•One of ICASA’s goals is to promote effective model development and documentation. This has resulted in the design of modules.

•Each module should handle all data input, initialization of variables, rate calculations, integration calculations and output of data related to a specific function.

•This modular approach

MODE OF OPERATION•ICASA is a participatory network. It encourages scientists to take part in the design, development, testing and application of crop models and decision support tools.

•ICASA encourages the sharing of models and computer tools.

•ICASA encourages the exchange of source code and promotes an open architecture.

•ICASA encourages the sharing of experimental data for applications and model improvement.

•ICASA encourages dissemination of systems science via training programs, workshops, symposia, model documentation, scientific

PROJECT EXAMPLES•A famine early warning system for millet production in Burkina Faso.

•Emergency fertilizer aid to Albania to improve winter wheat production.

•Impact of climate change on agricultural production and food security for many countries.

•National assessment of the potential consequences of climate variability and change for the United States.

•Watershed management in Honduras and Colombia to reduce environmental risks and conflicts over water use.

• Yield gap analysis of peanut production systems in Benin and Ghana.

•Managing nitrogenfertilizer applicationson maize in Malawias a function of climate variability.

•On-farm application of models for precision farming aids.

•The impact of cover crops on the

• Yield• Soil type• Images• Pests• Elevation• Drainage• Fertility

Genetics Weather

• Causes of Yield• Variability• Develop Prescriptions• Risk Assessment• Economics

Crop Models and Precision Farming

has been used extensively in the development of the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) of the APSRU group.

•Currently, the model CROPGRO is being converted to a modular structure. CROPGRO will be used as a template for the other DSSAT crop models.

articles and other media, including the Internet.

•ICASA is planning to centralize the distribution of Tools, Modules and Experimental Data via the web at http://ICASAnet.org

well as to enter new experimental data into the ICASA file format.

•The ICASA data standards will be implemented in future components of the ICASA Toolkit.

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sustainability of maize-based farming systems in Central America.

• Evaluation of the economic and environmental impact of land use changes in Puerto Rico.

•Water use by agriculture in the state of Georgia to help resolve a tri-state water conflict.

•Management tools and decision support aids for farmers in the state of Florida to cope with long-term climate variability.