RURAL DECISIONS

Development of a framework for managing uncertain decisions in agricultural and environmental policies – Towards an integrated policy for decision-making support in rural areas

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Current political and scientific debates are focused on finding a long-term policy beneficial both for environment and economy in rural areas in the EU member states. The proposed research project aims to methodologically reinforce these efforts and to contribute to development of an integrated policy for decision-making support in rural areas in an interdisciplinary process. The objective of the research is to develop a methodological framework integrating uncertain economic and ecological aspects in multiobjective decision-support systems in agricultural and environmental policies for Germany, Poland, and the U.S. Several analyses have been undertaken on multicriteria decision-making approaches and the problems of uncertainty in the European Union in different disciplines. However, most of them are focused on illustrating relations between them and comparing them. With the proposed research, the existing uncertainties will be directly incorporated in decision-support systems while uncertain and fuzzy information provided by experts will be firstly operationalised by means of the PROMETHEE approach. In order to progressively evaluate political problems an integrative programming model will be constructed to integrate fuzzy information as well as game theory to consider interactive decision-making between political stakeholders. The project will provide a novel, original and sustainable scientific tool for practical implementation to improve policy evaluation and design and to alleviate interactive decision-making processes in rural areas in the European countries. Thereby, an existing scientific gap in policy evaluation and in supporting political decision-making processes in rural areas in Europe can be filled, improving European scientific competitiveness and excellence in the researched field. The fellowship will be pivotal for the scientific progress of the researcher, reaching professional maturity and for preparing for the independent scientific career.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Makers of agricultural policies may need help. An EU group provided a decision-support tool that processes expert environmental and farming information to facilitate political decisions.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Policymakers often attempt to find solutions benefiting both the economy and environment in rural areas. However, achieving such goals can be difficult, in which case decision makers need some support.

Funded through the EU's Marie Curie programme for researcher development, the RURAL DECISIONS project ran over three years to July 2012. The main goal was to develop a multi-criteria decision-support system for agricultural and environmental policy, targeting Germany, Poland and the United States. The system was intended to 'operationalise' indefinite information provided by experts using a PROMETHEE approach. In addition, the programming model was constructed to integrate fuzzy information and game theory, and to facilitate political decision making.

Research was completed on schedule, including a literature review of the project's themes, computer-based testing of methods and a survey of American environmental experts. The interviews were evaluated, and the results prepared as conference and journal papers.

Project researchers also undertook seven courses in environmental economics, mathematics and programming. A further six courses facilitated career development.

Scientific extension activities included seminars, plus a variety of visits and excursions mostly to American institutions. Team members served as members of several committees, chaired certain meetings and taught two courses. A total of nine conference presentations were given.

The RURAL DECISIONS project yielded a novel tool that supports policy evaluation and decision making in contexts of European rural economics. The work also helped to improve European scientific excellence.