Cooperation with a German research institute on model-based forecasting methodology for agriculture has begun

The expansion of international cooperation on scientific research activities of the Agricultural Research Center under the Ministry of Agriculture is being continued. In this context, cooperation with the Thünen Institute under the auspices of the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut) on the application of the AGMEMOD model (www.agmemod.eu) in Azerbaijan, which is an agricultural forecasting methodology.

AGMEMOD is a system of mostly econometrically estimated partial equilibrium models for the agricultural sectors. The regional focus lies on the individually represented EU member states and their neighbors. AGMEMOD covers the most important agricultural activities of these countries in detail. The model captures, the interactions between the sectors, and the countries. AGMEMOD is primarily applied for baseline projections and also for analysis of agricultural market policies.

The initial stage of cooperation between the Agricultural Research Center and the Thünen Institute began in November 2021. Thus, with the support of the European Union, the Agricultural Research Center was equipped with the AGMEMOD model software by the Thünen Institute, and the Institute’s experts trained the Center’s specialists on the model.

On June 13-18, 2022, during the visit of the delegation of the Agricultural Research Center to Germany, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Agricultural Research Center and Thünen Institute on the use of the AGMEMOD model in the process of forecasting the agricultural sector in Azerbaijan. According to the MoU, two employees of the Agricultural Research Center are currently undergoing intensive training on the application of the AGMEMOD model in Azerbaijan at the Thünen Institute. According to the agreement, the methodological support of the Thünen Institute for the implementation of the model by the Agricultural Research Center will be continued.

By the way, the Thünen Institute provides methodological support to specialists from Azerbaijan, Argentina and Scotland, in addition to EU member and candidate countries, in connection with the implementation of the AGMEMOD model.

The Thünen Institute uses this model and other forecasting tools to monitor the agricultural prospects of the European Union, as well as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (EU Agricultural Outlook, OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook).

The visit was funded by the EU project “Support to Development of a Rural Business Information System (RBIS)”.