X-farm: a model for sustainable farming systems simulation”, contributed paper, 9th European IFSA Symposium, Wien

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the structure of X-farm, a model to manage farming systems under energetic, economic, ecologic perspective, using the dynamic simulatìon approach. The farm is targeted to achieve the energetic self-sufficiency, by using a quota of the total biomass produced in farm for the production of energy as oil, biogas or heat. The structure of X-farm is composed by some integrated modules represening the main centres of farming costs and production: soil management, crop production and processing, energy production and admmistration. The dynamìc simulator is addressed to flnd the best combìnation of crop and livestock in the farm plan, using a muìtipurpose strategic approoch. The objective of energy production is afforded by using cmps and reducing the energy use by optimizing energy saving techniques; the ecologica! objective is formulated by accounting the CO2 emissions; the economic objective is targeted to profit maximization, constrained by the leve! of achievement of the energy and ecology targets. The dynamic simulation is expected to help in improving the farm management performance wìth the simuitaneous achievement of these three objectives. Finally, combìning the X-farm mode! with GIS techniques, the analysis wìll be expanded to the agro-district planning to support the regional strategy for agro-energy productìon.