The InSEEDS Model - coupling LPJmL and copan:CORE towards an integrated human-earth system model of regenerative land-system change

The Anthropocene is the current geological epoch characterized by co-evolutionary dynamics between human societies and the Earth system. Linking biogeophysical and social processes is therefore essential to understand current developments in the Earth system. Especially the agricultural sector is a key driver of land system change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. To analyse and understand the mechanisms of these interactive systems, we developed the model of Integrated Social-Ecological rEsilient lanD Systems (InSEEDS), which couples the Dynamic Global Vegetation Model LPJmL with the agent-based modeling framework copan:CORE. LPJmL simulates the biogeophysical processes of the Earth system on a global 0.5° grid, in particular the terrestrial carbon, water, and nitrogen cycle, and can model, for example, plant and crop growth or water and fertilizer consumption. Various agricultural management practices can also be modeled, such as tillage, mulching, or cover crop cultivation. copan:CORE, on the other hand, can instantiate agents that reflect the behavior of farmers, management decisions, or interactions of the social world in different regions.

We here describe this novelty of World-Earth modeling and present the first exemplary application of the coupled model system which explores potential pathways for sustainable agricultural practices to spread. In this example we compare the potential social spreading of conservation tillage practices in contrast to conventional tillage practices based on the distribution of two different farmer types in the model, so-called agent functional types.