Modelling farm diversification in regions using expert and decision support systems

The building of expert systems (ES) and decision support systems (DSS) has become a recent feature of many academic disciplines, but few examples can be found in human geography research. This paper draws attention to the pot ential of ES and DSS by reporting research on modelling farm diversificatio n in the northern Pennines of England for four agricultural policy 'scenari os'. The results of similar modelling in four other 'lagging' regions of th e European Union (in Ireland, Scotland, France and Greece) are discussed. T he research shows the opportunities that diversification can bring to farm businesses, including raised farm incomes and increased farm employment. Bu t much depends on the willingness and ability of farmers to modify traditio nal farming systems, undertake the borrowing of capital and occupy more far mland. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.