Operating method for a control system of a plant of the primary industry, having a number of plant sections, - wherein a setpoint value optimiser of the control system establishes setpoint values (X*) for the individual plant sections on the basis of predetermined target variables using an optimiser-internal model of the plant, - wherein the setpoint value optimiser, at least for some of the plant sections, supplies the respective setpoint values (X*) to a respective model-based regulator of the control system regulating the respective plant section, - wherein the respective model-based regulators accept actual values at least from the respective plant section, - wherein the respective model-based regulators, on the basis of the setpoint values (X*) supplied to them and actual values accepted by them, using a regulator-internal model of the plant section regulated by them, establish adjustment variables for the respective plant section, - wherein the respective model-based regulators output the adjustment variables established by them to the respective plant section, - wherein a model identifier assigned to the respective model-based regulator in each case, accepts the adjustment variables output by the respective model-based regulator to the respective plant section and the actual values supplied to the respective model-based regulator, establishes parameters on the basis of adjustment variables and actual values accepted by it and optimises the regulator-internal model of the respective plant section on the basis of the parameters, - wherein the setpoint value optimiser accepts from the model identifiers the parameters established by the model identifiers and, using the parameters accepted by it and the setpoint values (X*) supplied by it to the model-based regulators, optimises the optimiser-internal model of the plant. - wherein a setpoint value optimiser of the control system establishes setpoint values (X*) for the individual plant sections on the basis of predetermined target variables using an optimiser-internal model of the plant, - wherein the setpoint value optimiser, at least for some of the plant sections, supplies the respective setpoint values (X*) to a respective model-based regulator of the control system regulating the respective plant section, - wherein the respective model-based regulators accept actual values at least from the respective plant section, - wherein the respective model-based regulators, on the basis of the setpoint values (X*) supplied to them and actual values accepted by them, using a regulator-internal model of the plant section regulated by them, establish adjustment variables for the respective plant section, - wherein the respective model-based regulators output the adjustment variables established by them to the respective plant section, - wherein a model identifier assigned to the respective model-based regulator in each case, accepts the adjustment variables output by the respective model-based regulator to the respective plant section and the actual values supplied to the respective model-based regulator, establishes parameters on the basis of adjustment variables and actual values accepted by it and optimises the regulator-internal model of the respective plant section on the basis of the parameters, - wherein the setpoint value optimiser accepts from the model identifiers the parameters established by the model identifiers and, using the parameters accepted by it and the setpoint values (X*) supplied by it to the model-based regulators, optimises the optimiser-internal model of the plant.