In order to make decisions in economy, it is prerequisite to understand complex processes and systems that entail social, economical, ecological and political factors. Simulation games stimulate intuition and develop the skills of comprehending systems’ transformations and their sensitivity.
In the Green Product project, modeling and simulation games were a tool for educating, building mutual trust and social potential, and bringing together science with practice. The project is an instance of the initiative to build partnership between non-governmental organizations, local self-government and the society. The subject of the analysis was a particular group of products coming from a traditional Polish breed of poultry, the Greenleg Partrdige hen, whose breeding does not require great expenditure and epitomizes the principles of sustainable agriculture, based on low fertilizers and pesticides use. In order to get a better picture of prospective events, the model of the alternate scenarios assessment was applied, which could help the farmers make decisions and simulate the results of given actions.
Project overview
The aim of the project was to experience the synergy between science and practice by creating simulators, using the conceptual and systems modeling that supports testing and decision-making. The task set for the modeling was to create a marketing strategy for a green product, which were the eggs of Greenleg Partridge hens.
The first phase consisted of a workshop, at which a research group took note of the problem, among others, through consultation with such experts as non-governmental organizations and associations supporting Greenleg Partridge hen breeders. This was followed by a series of meetings in the field with the farmers themselves, local government authorities and NGOs, to know the conditions and surroundings which are then used as the parameters in the model.
Parallel to that, work has been undertaken on the construction of the model itself. During the workshop the subgroups discussed the strategic concepts and models in the making, together with the invited guests, experts in the fields of conceptual and systems modeling, marketing, strategic planning, ecology, husbandry, etc. After the initial testing of the model by the scientific group and creating a user-friendly interface, the beneficiaries, that is the farmers, were invited and to participate in the model validation.
Results
- By “playing the game”, using the constructed interface, the farmers were able to learn about the likely effects of their actions.
- The game changed the approach of the participating farmers to acceptance and understanding of scientific language and methods of modeling, through discussion and active participation in the improving of the model. This positive experience was a step towards the transition from the intensive to the extensive farming methods.
- Modeling techniques made it possible to to explore the potential of the eco-product’s development with the help of the conceptual and dynamic model of the system, using a user-friendly interface.
- The workshop led to the identification of the factors limiting the farmers’ involvement in the new production: availability of funding from the EU, support from NGOs, the desired stock size and cooperation between producers.
Organizers
Wrocław University of Technology
Sponsors
The Sendzimir Foundation
Cooperation
- Association of Greenleg Partridge Hen Breeders “Zielononóżka”
- Leslie Martin, Berkeley University
Date of implementation
July 2004