Abstract for: Enhancing resilience and sustainability in multi-activity farming systems: a System Dynamics-based case study

Multi-activity agricultural companies operate within complex socio-ecological systems, facing increasing exposure to climate change, resource constraints, and - as they are broadly defined - other grand challenges. The diversified structure of these companies enhances value creation but also generates significant managerial complexity. Traditional analytical approaches struggle to capture these dynamics, limiting the ability of decision-makers to proactively design strategies that enhance organizational resilience and long-term sustainability. This study adopts a System Dynamics approach to model the structural and behavioral complexity of a multi-activity agricultural company. Through an exploratory case study developed in collaboration with a firm in central Italy, the research integrates participatory modelling, data collection, and iterative validation to build a simulation model capable of supporting resilience-oriented decision-making and policy analysis. Scenario analysis will be performed as the last step of the project. Preliminary findings show that System Dynamics modelling effectively captures the interdependencies among environmental, economic, and social dimensions within the farm system. The results highlight that organizational resilience emerges not from isolated practices, but from coherent and systemically aligned policy configurations that integrate resource management, financial capacity, and long-term sustainability strategies. A so-called bounce approach to organizational resilience is particularly emphasized as the proactive behavior to be enhanced in this specific domain. The study contributes to resilience and sustainability literature by conceptualizing resilience as a dynamic systemic property rather than a purely reactive capability. It also demonstrates the value of System Dynamics-based simulation principles and tools in supporting proactive decision-making under complexity. The model provides the basis for the development and use of a management flight simulator, thereby potentially enabling stakeholders to explore strategies and strengthen resilience in the face of evolving environmental and socio-economic “grand challenges”. Refinement of the text to improve grammar, clarity and fluency.