MODELING: A BRIDGE BETWEEN NATURAL SCIENTISTS AND AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTS

This paper has a broad topic: the use of modeling as an area of common interest and as a bridge for research between agricultural biological scientists and agricultural economisits. The thesis is that modeling is a tool which offers some unique properties, both in itself for addressing research problems and as a mechanism for communication. To demonstrate this position, examples of current and projected uses of models in the various plant sciences and in agricultural economics will be discussed. Suggestions will be made as to how both groups of researchers can benefit from working together on models. Lastly some suggestions will be made as to how scientists and social scientists from various disciplines can work together as teams