Environmental Management in Agriculture: An Expert System Approach

Abstract

The development of quantitative measures for self-assessment of the environmental performance of farming enterprises is described. A rule-based expert system approach is adopted based on well established sources of guidance. Value judgements are introduced as configurable coefficients. The system derives a compound performance indicator which can provide the basis for inter-or intra-farm comparisons and also provides an objective criterion on which the concept of continuing environmental performance can be judged. This method can also be used to provide an empirical check on environmental sustainability. The evaluations within the system are based on whether actions have, on balance, the potential to result in net environmental harm or benefit. The role of such evaluations within an integrated decision support framework is discussed.

Participatory assessment of priority fishery profiles in an overfished urban inshore seascape in Kenya

“…Whenever there was a tie in the pair-wise ranking, the tied issues were compared and the one issue that was selected by the FGD as the most important among the two was given a higher ranking than the one considered as subordinate. Pairwise scoring and ranking methods provide a vital starting point, and sometimes the only practical means, for systems whose underlying complexities are not fully understood or agreed (Tucker et al, 1996).…”

Scoring and ranking farmland conservation activities to evaluate environmental performance and encourage sustainable farming

“…Whilst some workers in this area have criticised scoring and ranking as being overly simplistic (Thompson, 1988) such methods can provide an essential starting point and sometimes the only practical means, for systems whose underlying complexities are not fully understood or agreed (Tucker et al, 1996).…”

Options for Informal Environmental Management: The Agricultural Industry Highlighted

“…At the University of Hertfordshire, a project sponsored by MAFF, in collaboration with ADAS and IACR Rothamsted, has been undertaken to encourage and enhance sound environmental practice in arable agriculture through the development of a computerized informal environmental management system ( Johnston and Lewis, 1995;Tucker et al, 1996). This system is designed to be personal to the farmer, not as a comparative tool between farms.…”