Budding agricultural researchers are being trained in crop modeling to take on pressing and ever-present challenges of land, climate and food security. In a recent training program at ICRISAT-Mali, eight students learned to model agrosystems with DSSAT software, taking into account smallholder farming constraints. Crop modeling is a process that describes different stages of crop […]
29
Jan
Advancing crop growth models using genotype-specific parameters
Incorporating genotype-specific parameters and realistic trait physiology will advance crop growth models. Plant breeders face an urgent mission: of adapting crops to climate change and feeding an increased world population. Crop models can help breeders select cultivars and cultivar traits for different target environments. For instance, models can be used to evaluate traits (e.g., life […]
15
Jan
14th Virtual DSSAT Development Sprint
The 14th DSSAT Development Sprint was held from January 11-15, 2021 as a Virtual Meeting due to continuing Covid-19 Pandemic. The DSSAT Development Sprint was hosted by the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems and the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering of the University of Florida. One of the main goals of the DSSAT Development […]
18
Nov
Crop modeling takeaways from the 2020 CGIAR Convention
This is one of a series of blogs written by our Youth in Data delegates who participated in the 2020 CGIAR Convention on Big Data in Agriculture. The global event was held virtually 19-23 October 2020. Feature photo: Alfonso Cortés / CIMMYT. During my experience as a Youth in Data 2020 delegate at the 2020 CGIAR […]
22
Jun
Scientists from IITA, Wageningen and University of Florida are Optimizing Crop Models for Improved Predictions
The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) project scientists are working on optimizing crop models to improve the prediction of the AKILIMO decision support tools. The team is evaluating the performance of the Light Interception and Utilization (LINTUL) and Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) to predict the attainable yield of cassava under well managed […]
14
Jan
12th DSSAT Development Sprint at the University of Florida
The 12th DSSAT Development Sprint was held from January 6-10, 2020 at the University of Florida and co-hosted by the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems and the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering. One of the main goals of the DSSAT Development Sprint is to improve the science of the Cropping System Model (CSM) and […]
09
Jan
Advances in crop modelling for a sustainable agriculture
This collection summarises key advances in crop modelling, with a focus on developing the next generation of crop and whole-farm models to improve decision making and support for farmers. Chapters in Part 1 review advances in modelling individual components of agricultural systems, such as plant responses to environmental conditions, crop growth stage prediction, nutrient and […]
06
Dec
Cultivating Food Security in Africa
University of Florida (UF) researchers of the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems are developing ways to combat food insecurities in Africa. The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative is a five-year project to advance cassava farming by offering decision support tools. Farmers can access these applications to identify ways to maximize crop yield, improve root starch quality, and reduce […]
26
Nov
DSSAT 2019 @ South Africa
The Agrometeorology Programme of the Soil, Climate and Water Campus of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC ∙ LNR) in South Africa, in collaboration with the DSSAT Foundation, organized a DSSAT training program from September 30 through October 4, 2019 at ARC Headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. Twenty-nine participants from South Africa, Rwanda, Botswana, Swaziland, Mauritius, […]
14
Oct
23rd Annual Open Forum on Crop Modeling and Decision Support Systems
The DSSAT Foundation will be sponsoring the 23rd Annual Open Forum on Crop Modeling and Decision Support Systems during this year’s ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2019 International Annual Meeting. The forum is scheduled for Monday night, November 11, 2019, from 7:30 – 9:00pm in Room 225A of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. The […]
