We are two months into 2022 and we can already say that the MIND STEP project is headed in the right direction!
At the end of last year, we organised a workshop with experts to discuss the conceptual model. Prior to this, we had set tasks and divided into sub-teams to revise the details of the model. A protocol had been developed: ODD (Overview, Design Concepts, Details), a set of guidelines that were designed to document and describe agent-based models. For the workshop, we gathered a group of relevant policy actors and research advisors from Flevoland and the Ministry of Agriculture. What was the main goal of the workshop? First of all, we wanted to present our project to experts but we were also aiming for receiving input on the used model assumptions and parametres.
We are pleased to say that the feedback we received during this workshop with the experts on how the available data is used was very good. The outcomes of this session were then used in a follow-up, participative workshop with farmers in 2022. The main focus of this second workshop was asking questions to the audience to veritfy, prioritize, and check underlying assumptions and parametres of the model. Participative methods were used to facilitate interaction and receive input in a more structured way.
Stay tuned for more updates from the MIND STEP team!