2. Production, distribution and management of goods and resources

2.1 Agriculture

Agriculture in Western countries is becoming increasingly digitalized, and modelling is a key aspect of this change. They are based on equations describing how crops function (e.g. biomass production as a function of solar radiation, plant growth as a function of temperature or soil humidity, etc.). Numerical simulation can be used to assess the impact of agricultural practices, soil quality and climate on yields and the environment. Applications are highly varied, enabling farmers, companies and public agencies to estimate the performance of different production methods in a variety of situations.

With more and more data available – from satellites, drones, sensors, field surveys, etc. – the sector is being transformed by the introduction of...