Gill, Roderic, "Planning Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems: A System Dynamics Approach", 1995
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The assessment of and planning for agricultural system sustainability is a difficult task not adequately handled by conventional methods of farm management analysis. Sustainability is appropriately considered as multi-dimensioned phenomenon incorporating ecological, economic and sociological aspects. An holistic perspective is necessary to consider these dimensions. The inherent complexity of real world agricultural system implies an inductive, rather than deductive analytical approach. As an inductive modelling procedure, system dynamics is able to represent the underlying feedback processes that define those ecological economic processes relevant to an understanding of sustainability. Through such an understanding, the analyst is able to facilitate change towards the ultimate goal of holistic system sustainability. A case study model is developed to indicate the relevant modelling procedure and outline some guidelines for interpretation.