Using the FarmDESIGN Model to Plan Two-season Crop Production and to Evaluate Brand Value of a Small-scale Organic Farm in Taiwan

Crop simulation models are potential decision analysis tools for improving the precision of agricultural systems. This study applied the FarmDESIGN model to evaluate the management options of a small-scale organic farm with its own brand in Taiwan. To implement its brand concept, "Do organic farming and ecological conservation," the farm's regular activities included organic cultivation of rice and other crops, a subscription plan for on-farm experience and rice, agroecological tours, and conservation of the habitat of a rare species. The objectives of this research included to compare the pros and cons of productions by organic and conventional farming, and to recommend crops for two crop seasons that may result in better profit and environmental sustainability. FarmDESIGN input values were obtained from interviews of the farmer and a public database. The targets for optimization were maximizing operating profit, maximizing regular labor balance (leisure time), maximizing soil organic matter balance, and minimizing soil nitrogen loss. According to simulation results, the research farm outperformed the conventional farm in both environmental and economic aspects. These better outcomes were due to the added value from the subscription plan, and can represent the farm's brand value. The multi-objective optimization results recommended to keep pursuing the subscription plan in the spring and to plant green manure and sweet potato in the fall although the simulation outcomes showed tradeoffs between objectives. End-user validation confirmed that the simulation result for the farm's current status was reliable, and that the optimization recommendation was practicable with a few adjustments made to the farm's operation strategy. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the FarmDESIGN model's usefulness for analyzing farm operation and supporting decision-making. We hoped that the analytical process proposed in this research can help small farms in Taiwan to develop their own management strategies in line with the concept of sustainable agriculture.

關鍵字

Crop simulation model ； Brand value ； Multi-objective optimization ； Environmental sustainability

並列摘要

作物模擬模式可輔助農業系統管理的決策工具，本研究應用FarmDESIGN模式於評估國內具有個人品牌之小型有機農場的管理。此農場的品牌理念為「行有機耕作，做生態保育」，農場經營除了種植有機作物，還推行穀東認購制、舉辦農村生態小旅行、維護水生動物棲息地等活動。本研究目標是透過FarmDESIGN模式模擬，比較經營有機農場與慣行農場生產的優劣勢，並希望建議有利於改善有機農場經濟收入及環境永續農業的作物。FarmDESIGN模型的輸入資料整理自對農戶的訪談結果與開放資料庫，設定優化的目標變數為農場利潤、休閒時間、土壤氮流失量和土壤有機物均衡。模擬結果該有機農場在環境與經濟面向都優於實施慣行農法的農場，主因是穀東認購制所帶來的品牌價值。多目標優化的模擬結果建議在一期作增加認穀水稻，二期作則種植大豆、田菁等綠肥作物與甘藷，但模擬結果也顯示四個優化目標彼此具有權衡效應。上述模擬結果透過農戶確認證實優化結果的確合理且具有實用性，顯示FarmDESIGN可用做評估臺灣小型有機農場經營的有效工具，並能透過模擬提出未來農場經營的合理建議。期望此研究提出的分析流程，能協助臺灣小型農場各自發展符合永續農業理念的經營管理策略。

並列關鍵字

作物模擬模型；品牌價值；多目標優化；環境永續

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