SEAMLESS (System for Environmental and Agricultural
Modelling; Linking European Science and Society) is an
Integrated Project within EU-FP-6.
The SEAMLESS project will develop an integrated and operational framework (SEAMLESS-IF) which integrates approaches from economic, environmental and social sciences to enable assessment of the impact of policy and behavioral changes and innovations in agriculture and agroforestry. SEAMLESS-IF aims at rapidly becoming essential for integrated assessment of agricultural systems in the context of agro-ecological innovations, rural development, sustainability, agricultural policy reform, EU enlargement and world trade liberalization. The project is coordinated by Wageningen University in the Netherlands. LUCSUS is responsible for participatory development, dissemination and stakeholder dialogue as well as involved in determining the structure of SEAMLESS-IF.

European agriculture faces major challenges. The on-going process to enlarge the EU, WTO negotiations, introduction of novel agro-technologies, changing societal demands and climate change, for instance, all interact in a complex way. Efficient and effective agricultural and environmental policies are needed to support sustainability of European agriculture and its contribution to sustainable development of society at large.
Example policy questions at stake:

• What are the likely consequences of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms on agricultural systems in the new member states, rural employment, landscape and environment?
• Agreements on the reduced emission of greenhouse gasses require alternative energy production systems and sequestration of carbon – what alternative policies can be developed to enhance the role of agriculture?
• WTO negotiations on agricultural trade liberalization will affect the European dairy sector and the African fibre sector – what could be the consequence of alternative outcomes of these negotiations on specific farming systems in Europe and less developed countries?
• Does multifunctional agriculture stimulate sustainable development of rural areas? Which beneficial effects may be anticipated at the regional scale?

Such issues would benefit from ex-ante integrated assessment and scientific tools are vital to test the contribution of agricultural and environmental policies to sustainable development.

Consortium Partners

• Wageningen University, The Netherlands
• INRA, France
• CIRAD, France
• Humbolt University of Berlin, Germany
• ZALF, Germany
• Agricultural Research Council, Italy
• Joint Research Centre, Italy
• Agricultural University of Norway, Norway
• LUCSUS, Lund University, Sweden
• IDSIA, Switzerland
• Plant Research International, The Netherlands
• LEI, The Netherlands
• Alterra, The Netherlands
• Centre for Rural Economy, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
• Warsaw Agricultural University, Poland
• Institute of Landscape Ecology, the Czech Republic
• VUZE, Czech Republic
• Lund University Education AB, Sweden
• Simulistics Ltd, United Kingdom
• Institute for Agricultural Policy, University of Bonn, Germany
• Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning, Denmark
• IAMM, France
• University of Évora, Portugal
• National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
• AntOptima, Switzerland
• Institut, d’Economie Rurale, Mali
• Gund Institute of Ecological Economics, University of Vermont, USA
• Cemagref, France
• Aberdeen University, United Kingdom
• School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, UK

SEAMLESS -
System for Environmental and Agricultural
Modelling; Linking European Science and Society

EU FP6 Integrated Project 
Priority Area 1.1.6.3
"Global Change and Ecosystems"

Project duration:
2005-2008

The project is coordinated by
Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Co-ordinator
Dr Martin van Ittersum

Scientific Officer at EC:
Dr. Daniel Deybe, DG RTD
Strategies and Policy for Sustainable
Development Uni

SEAMLESS Contact at LUCSUS
Dr Sara Brogaard
E-mail: sara.brogaardlucsus.lu.se 
Phone: +46 (0)46 222 04 20

More info at
www.seamless-ip.org