Abstract for: Using a CLD and analogue simulation to facilitate learning and identify research opportunities in a public research organisation

Agriculture is one of the Aotearoa-New Zealand’s largest industries and features highly in political debate, nationally funded research, and policy making. Most research seeks to optimise either existing or emerging agricultural practices; or process inputs to reduce environmental impact. Little research is explores the impact of environmental limits and resource constraints; or the multiple interacting complexities between them that may constrain agricultural production. This work developed an experiential activity, using a CLD (developed beforehand) and analogue simulation, targeted at senior scientists within a publicly funded research organisation. It aimed to expand their awareness of interacting complexities that may need further research. For example, liquid fuel constraints; agricultural land lost to pest species; carbon sequestration farming; climate change impacts on water supply; and the impact of emerging contaminants on the soils ability to grow. Ex-post interviews with participants explored their experience of the activity and the insights they gained from the exercise. Results indicate that the exercise widened the perspective of those involved to include variables they had not previously been aware of. They also demonstrated an increased desire to include such insights in research planning. This exercise demonstrated an applied role that system dynamics can play in decision-support. It identified several potential areas of research: available energy in a fossil fuel constrained future; competition between growing crops for food versus biofuel feedstock or carbon sequestration; the impact emerging contaminants and constrained water supplies may have on the growing capacity of agricultural land. Further research seeks to expand the application of this exercise within the organisation and potentially trial it with other organisations.