On the Use of Agent-Based Modeling for Smart Farming

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using Agent-Based Models (ABMs) for describing a crop growing system. Even though ABMs have received increasing attention for modeling ecological systems, their use in modern farming is still limited. To develop such a model, a proper definition of the plants as agents can be provided following a standard protocol named ODD (overview, design concepts, and details). This description allows to define complex interaction between environment (e.g., soil, climatic conditions, and limited resources) and plants, and between plants. To validate this preliminary development, a comparative study is achieved with a classical crop-modeling environment, i.e., AquaCrop, using potato plants as sample crop.