Bellocchi, G., & Ma, S. (2014). Results of uncalibrated grassland model runs (Vol. 3).
Abstract: This deliverable focuses on the some illustrative results obtained with the grassland models selected (D-L2.1.1) to simulate biomass and flux data from grassland sites in Europe and peri-Mediterranean regions (D-L2.1.1 and D-L2.1.2). This is a blind exercise, carried out without model calibration. The complete set of results will include simulations from calibrated models. The results shown are illustrative of the methodology adopted for grassland model intercomparison in MACSUR. The insights gained from this ongoing study are relevant for some crop and vegetation models, which in some cases proved comparable to grassland-specific models to simulate biomass data from managed grasslands. The results reported here cannot be considered conclusive. Additional results will be published as they become available together with calibration results, as well as the comprehensive evaluation of models with fuzzy logic-based indicators. No Label
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Kipling, R., Topp, K., & Don, A. (2014). Appropriate meta-data for modellers (Vol. 3).
Abstract: Report D-L1.4.1 provided an overview of the data and related resources available online and through EU funded projects, relating to soil organic carbon (SOC), and carbon sequestration in grasslands in particular. Building on D-L1.4.1, the report presented here discusses how meta-data describing these types of data (and experimental data more generally) can best be presented in an online resource useful to grassland modellers requiring data to use in their modelling work. Identifying the useful categories of meta-data is a necessary precursor to providing such a resource, which could facilitate better communication between modelling and experimental research groups, allowing researchers to more efficiently locate relevant data and to link up with other scientists working on similar topics. A survey among grassland modelling teams and an assessment of online meta-data resources was used to produce recommendations about the meta-data categories that should be included in an online resource. The categories are generic, so that the recommendations can be followed in the design of meta-data resources for the more general agricultural modelling community. No Label
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König, H., Helming, K., Ayalon, O., Benami, E., & Palatnik, R. R. (2014). Curriculum for training course on policy impact assessment (Vol. 3).
Abstract: A one-week MACSUR training course on policy impact assessment was held in March 2014 at Haifa University in Israel. The course was organised by ZALF (Hannes König, Katharina Helming) and Haifa University (Ofira Ayalon, Edan Benami, Ruslana Palatnik), targeting at the participation of Post-Docs and PhD students associated to the MACSUR consortium. The Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA) was used as the main method for the course to support structuring the policy impact assessment. The Israelian MACSUR case study of the Ramat Menashe Biosphere was used the test case of assessing alternative policy options and sustainability trade-offs. No Label
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Köchy, M. (2014). The FACCE MACSUR Mid-Term Scientific Conference: ‘Achievements, Activities, Advancement’ (Vol. 3).
Abstract: The mid-term meeting was held in Sassari, Sardinia, 1-4 April 2014. The meeting was attended by 120 researchers and stakeholders from 16 countries (Fig. 1). After a day of looking back on the achievements during the first two years and presenting results to stakeholders, researchers focused on fine-tuning the planning of remaining work for the project till May 2015 and preparations for a follow-up project (MACSUR2) till May 2017. On an excursion, scientists and stakeholders visited farms in the Oristano region, one of the regional case studies of MACSUR. The meeting was a unique opportunity in this pan-European project for discussing in person common issues with and among stakeholders of different regions and how to approach the impact of climate change to producing food in Europe in a world with a growing population. A report in La Nueva Sardegna highlighted the conference. Excursion: dairy sheep farm “Su Pranu” (Siamanna), dairy cattle farm “Sardo Farm” (Arborea), Arborea Cooperative Recordings of the presentations are available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrjoXlUIJNBW8cWOgh0_g The presentations are available on the conference website: http://ocs.macsur.eu/index.php/Hub/Mid-term/schedConf/presentations Short papers derived from the presentations are available on the conference website and in FACCE MACSUR Reports vol 5. The food consumed during lunches at the conference originated mostly from the Oristano region. Remaining food in good condition was donated to a charity organisation for needy people. Fig. 1. Number of participants per country.
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Ahmadi, B. V., Shrestha, S., Thomson, S. G., Barnes, A. P., & Stott, A. W. (2014). Health, welfare and profitability in Scottish sheep farms: assessing the impacts of CAP 2015 reforms..
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