The methods identify options for sustainable farming systems and land use and provide trade-offs among objectives. You will learn different methods to analyze and explore future land use options in a given context. To use these methods, you need to apply disciplinary knowledge about economics, soil, climate, animal and plant. Important aspects of the various methods treated are their aim, spatial and temporal scale and climatic zone. Be carried out for temperate zones or the tropics.
All methods use a scenario approach and multiple criteria analysis.
It will be stressed that strong involvement of stakeholders is important. The methods are complementary in the support and design of sustainable farming systems and policy strategies for sustainable land use. The course will be illustrated with different studies that have been carried out in Costa Rica, Mali, The Netherlands and the European Union. Only short introductions will be given on the background material, followed by exercises for individuals or small groups. There will be some computer practical to practice linear programming and multiple criteria analysis.