Functional specifications and design parameters for the implementation of the quantitative modelling

The overall objective of the VALUMICS project is to produce a comprehensive suite of approaches and tools that will enable decision makers to evaluate the impact of strategic and operational policies on resilience, integrity and sustainability of European food value chains.

Goals

The goal is to develop the functional specifications and design of a hybrid of system dynamics and agent based simulation model to be developed in WP7. The model will be applied to assess the impact of different transformations (policy interventions, demand, supply and trade shocks) in future scenarios towards fairer and sustainable food supply chains. It will focus on exploring opportunistic behaviours related to fair value distribution, and fair relations along the food value chain, and how it impacts the distribution of value added along food value chains.

The work in T5.2 “Integrated model structure and specifications” is focused on conceptualisation of an agent-based model (ABM) where decision-making and agents’ behaviours are explored in selected food value chain case studies. This includes developing Agent tables, Decision tables, Agent behaviour rule maps and Agent interaction maps. Furthermore, a cognitive map is used to visualise the stakeholder’s perception of the system and problem formulation. The work involves participants through the different case studies who ensure the flow of information from other WPs and tasks in the project with the objective to align the work to the needs of the modelling (WP7) and future scenarios (WP8). T5.2 was extended by 3 months to better align the ongoing groundwork in WP4 related to e.g. mass flow and decisions (T4.4/D4.3) and to consider the progress of scenario developments in WP8.  Partners UCD and UoI are responsible for involving case study leaders (CSL) and other participants in developing the functional specifications for the ABM. The progress is discussed in WP meetings and dedicated case study (CS) on-line meetings. Furthermore, an internal VALUMICS ABM workshop in Wuppertal on July 11-12, 2019 was held to facilitate the work. The meeting was organised by NUID-UCD as part of Task 5.2, with a view to needs of WP 7. Specifications are to be delivered as internal reports to Task 7.2 on the technical design and further iterated through the technical design leading to coding of the integrated quantitative model.

Main outcome

The Functional specifications and design parameters for the implementation of the quantitative modelling includes the following

• Scope, limitations and assumptions
• Problem description and opportunistic behaviours in FVC
• Fairness theory and metrics
• Modelling objectives
• Future scenarios to be modelled
• Information requirements from case studies and What if questions
• Methodological approach - Model content and functionality

The outcome of the work from case study teams is included in Appendix to this deliverable.