This text addresses methodological issues of production ecology, and contains scientific contributions written by nine specialists. A central issue is the combination of the agricultural model with reliable data in relation to scale. A model is developed with data from a single point, whereas decisions are to be made for areas of land. Such an approach requires the use of a skilful treatment of available data and information. The book is divided into four parts: advanced information science yields the best possible models in an efficient way; geographical information systems combine various layers of spatial information; statistics upscale local information towards regions and test its reliability; and modern trends in automated modelling are identified. The book is illustrated with various practical studies, ranging from the individual model to the whole European community. It aims at a readership of graduate and post-graduate agricultural scientists, practitioners and politicians.
