ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE BIOLOGICAL AGENT USE IN ECOLOGICAL POTATO PRODUCTION – SYSTEM DYNAMICS SIMULATION
ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE BIOLOGICAL AGENT USE IN ECOLOGICAL POTATO PRODUCTION – SYSTEM DYNAMICS SIMULATION

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this study is to assess the economic viability by calculating the potential profits and ex-penses for farmers, and to simulate the impact of the application of a microbiological agent on the potatoplant in a field trial. The field experiment aimed to identify the role of the biological agent while substi-tuting the synthetic plant fertilization and protection. Methodology: The system dynamics method wasapplied to the data provided from one planting season of field experiments conducted in the framework ofthe PotatoMETABiome project. From eleven tested varieties on six different scenario plots, the most eco-nomically viable variety – Pasja Pomorska – was tested. The comparative approach was applied to showthe results of inoculating potato plants with biological agents and using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.Results: The results show that the application of biocontrol agents increases the quality and quantity of thepotato yield compared to a variant in which no synthetic agents are used. These are, however, higher whileapplying the latter. It can therefore be argued that the microbiological agent could support ecological po-tato production, yet it does not reach the economic break-even point yet. Conclusions: Bearing in mind thelimitations resulting from the experimental nature of field research, the level of economic profitability ofinnovative biological preparations and the importance of their use in agriculture have been demonstrated.

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