Summary
Information Technology (IT) plays an important role in agricultural sector modelling. The paper discusses current solutions and possible developments in the fields of data base management, model set-up and solution, and exploitation of results. It is based on the results of the workshop on "Software Use in Agricultural Sector Modelling" organised in summer 1996 by the Institute of Agricultural Policy in Bonn and a follow-up session at the 1997 joint annual meeting of the American and Canadian Agricultural Economics Associations in Toronto. At least for large scale models, the evaluation hints at an increasing use of modelling languages coupled to integrated data base management systems and a decreasing use of spreadsheets and own-developed solutions in the years ahead.
