DEXiPM Arables Crops

DEXiPM, for designing and evaluating innovative crop strategies.

DEXiPM is a multi-criteria model for assessing the sustainability of cropping systems, based on DEXi technology (Bohanec, 2009).
DEXiPM is a contraction of DEXi, the qualitative tree management software for decision support and IPM (Integrated Pest Management).
Originally, the model only concerned field crop systems, but other versions for other crops exist (e.g., pome fruits). It was designed for researchers and aims to evaluate the performance of cropping systems based on the principles of integrated protection.

The approach

DEXiPM was designed for a research audience and aims to evaluate the performance of cropping systems based on the principles of integrated pest management. This is reflected in the structure of the model by the addition of specific crop protection criteria to strengthen the evaluation on this point and to allow fine comparisons of different protection strategies.
As the model is used to facilitate design groups, it is entirely qualitative and is characterized by an in-depth breakdown of the tree structure (75 basic criteria and 86 aggregated criteria). Socio-economic criteria related to the extra-parcel context have been inserted in order to evaluate the performance of the systems in their evaluation context. These criteria can then be used to identify the barriers to innovation and to define more appropriate public policies or commodity chain strategies by simulating changes in the context. The model allows the introduction of weighting factors for the different criteria, according to the priorities that the user gives them.
Stakeholders can thus test several choices and discuss them in complete transparency, since the hierarchy given to the different criteria chosen is apparent.