This volume of Aspects of Applied Biology  has been produced for the conference organised by the Association of Applied Biologists, the British Society of Animal Science and the Agricultural Economics Society. The conference explored effective methodologies for analysing integrated agricultural systems. These systems are, by their very nature, complex with many interacting factors determining their development.  It is now widely recognised across the scientific community and by policymakers that issues such as climate change, biofuels, food security, impacts of agriculture on the environment, animal health and welfare, and agricultural policy and regulations are best addressed through an integrated approach.  The conference brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to explore how better to collaborate. The goal was to improve our understanding of how changes in the biophysical, economic and social environment are likely to impact on agricultural production and ecosystem services, and the wider implications for society.

  Within the context of how best to provide the evidence required by policymakers, the key themes of the conference were:  

• Tool of the trade
• Lessons to be learnt
• The way forward

The papers in this volume focus on the key challenges posed by the need for an integrated approach to research.  Hence, the papers consider how to link models at different scales or from different disciplines, the availability and quality of data, how to validate the assumptions of the models, testing the models, and other issues.

The organisers would like to thank the Scottish Government for financial support. 

Thanks are due to all members of the organising committee (see below) for their help with this conference. Also thanks to Carol Millman, Anna Johns and Bernadette Lawson of the AAB Office for organising the administration of this conference and preparing this volume of Aspects of Applied Biology. 

Organising Committee

Kairsty Topp

Neil McRoberts

Sinclair Mayne

Alan Renwick

Graham Russell

Mike Steele

Eileen Wall