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Farm tourism shows a structure different from agriculture, forestry, and fishery farm tourism is expanding, labour intensive, generates an influx of money, and maintains the service base in the region. Farm tourism is one of the most important supplementary activities and generates considerable secondary income. This paper present the developed methodology that will enable the ranking of tourist farms based on their service quality. This is accomplished through the use of the expert system based on the DEXi decision-making method. Using DEXi, the multi-criteria decision model for the assessment of farm tourism-s service quality was developed. The model was applied in practice on 7 vacation farms. The data from the questionnaires completed by farm guests and hosts was used as input data in the multi-attribute model and as an arbitrary estimation for the farm. The results of the model are shown as the assessments for individual farms. Out of seven chosen farms, four achieved the best possible estimation. Two of them achieved middle estimation. For the last tourist farm, where a data deficit was present, the model showed two final possible estimations (very good or good and bad - depends on value of missing attributes.

The placement of a theme park in the form of a Zen garden, as a business opportunity in the Slovenian rural area, is discussed. The design of the garden, with all the major points of a standard business plan, is accurately presented, with a description of the business, branch, and services, market analysis, marketing strategy, financial projections, and a plan of the work and activities. The financial aspect is presented as the amount of investment, net present value, and internal rate of return. The amount of investment is estimated at € 14.891, which should be reimbursed within 4 years of operations. The estimated internal rate of return is estimated at 16.86%. Part of the study is the market analysis - conduction of a survey into knowledge of, and interest in, Zen and Zen gardens. The principles of landscape ecology are respected, as the Zen garden would be set in the woods and will blend seamlessly into the landscape. Diskutirana je umestitev tematskega parka - zen vrta, kot poslovna priložnost na območju slovenskega podeželja. Natančno je predstavljena zasnova vrta z vsemi glavnimi sklopi standardnega poslovnega načrta: opis podjetja in panoge, opis storitve, analiza trga, strategija trženja, finančne projekcije ter načrt dela in aktivnosti. Finančni vidik je predstavljen z oceno finančnih param- etrov kot so višina investicije, neto sedanja vrednost in interna stopnja donosa. Višina investicije projekta je ocenjena na 14.890,70 €, povrnila naj bi se v 4 letih poslovanja. Ocenjena interna stopnja donosa ob povratku investicije je 16,86 %. Del raziskave pred- stavlja analiza trga -izvedba ankete o poznavanju in zanimanju za zen in zen vrt. Pri načrtovanju zen vrta so upoštevani principi krajinske ekologije, saj postavitev vrta v gozdvsekakor vpliva na krajino.

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the principles of the development of parallel system-dynamics and agent-based models of organic farming for the case of Slovenia. The advantage of agent-based modeling is demonstrated by including geospatial information as an agent attribute. The models were compared by the validation, confirming the appropriate level of similarity. Design/Methodology/Approach: Both system-dynamics and agent-based modeling approaches were applied. Statistical methods were used in the validation. Results: The results of the validation confirm the appropriateness of the proposed agent-based model. Introducing additional attributes into the agent-based model provides an important advantage over the system-dynamics model, which serves as the paradigmatic example. Conclusion: A thorough validation and comparison of the results of the system-dynamics and agent-based models indicates the proper approach to combining the methodologies. This approach is promising, because it enables the modeling of the entire agricultural sector, taking each particular farm into account. Ozadje in namen: Namen pričujoče raziskave je opisati razvoj paralelnega modela, razvitega po principih Sistemske Dinamike in Agentnega modeliranja. Model je razvit za potrebe simulacije prehoda k ekološkemu kmetijstvu na področju Slovenije. Prednost agentnega modeliranja je bila prikazana z vključitvijo geografske informacije kot agentnega atributa. Izvedena je bila primerjava modelov. S pomočjo validacije je bila potrjena visoka stopnja podobnosti izhodnih rezultatov ter primernost pristopa. Oblikovanje/metodologija/pristop: Uporabljeni so bili principi modeliranja Sistemske Dinamike in agentnega modeliranja. Pri izvedbi validacije so bile uporabljene statistične metode. Rezultati: Rezultati validacije so potrdili primernost razvitega agentnega modela. Možnost dodajanja novih atributov v agentnem modelu zagotavlja pomembno prednost pred modeliranjem po principih sistemske dinamike, in hkrati predstavlja paradigmatski primer. Zaključek: Z izvedenim postopkom validacije in primerjavo modela razvitega po principih Sistemske Dinamike in agentnega modeliranja smo potrdili ustreznost razvitih struktur. Predlagani pristop pretvorbe modelov izkazuje ustrezen potencial za nadaljnje delo pri razvoju modela, kjer obravnavamo vsako posamezno kmetijo kot agenta z večjim naborom atributov.

Hierarchical decision models are a general decision support methodology aimed at the classification or evaluation of options that accur in desion-making processes. Decision models are typically developed through the decomposition of complex decision problems into smaller and less comple subproblems. This paper presents an approach to the development and implementation of multicriteria decision model based on Analytical Hierarchy Process - AHP (Expert Choice, EC). Likewise, the AHP is used as a potential multicriteria decision making method for application in agriculture. In order to show the implementation of explained MCDA methods in real situation in agriculture, theapplication of AHP on a sample model farm is presented in the second part of the article. Hijerarhijski modeli odlučivanja su opće prihvaćena metodologija za klasifikaciju alternative, koje se javljaju u procesu odlučivanja. Modeli su razvijeni postupkom dekompozicije problema u manje kompleksne podprobleme. U ovom radu predstavljamo razvoj i implementaciju višekriterijskog modela, koji bazira na analitičkom hijerarhijskom procesu – AHP (Expert Choice. EC). U tom smislu AHP se javlja kao potencijalni metodološki pristup za potporu donošenju odluka u poljoprivrednom managementu. U radu je demonstrirana aplikacija AHP na realnom problemu odlučivanja u poljoprivredi na primjeru modelnog ekološkog gospodarstva.

In decision under uncertainty individual decision makers (farmers) have to choose one of a set number of alternatives with complete information about their outcomes but in the absence of any information or data about the probabilities of the various state of nature. This paper examines a decision making under uncertainty in agriculture. The classical approaches of Wald’s, Hurwicz’s, Maximax, Savage’s and Laplace’s are discussed and compared in case study of oil pumpkin production and selling of pumpkin oil. The computational complexity and usefulness of the criterion are further presented. The article is concluded with aggregate the results of all observed criteria and business alternatives in the conditions of uncertainty, where the business alternative 1 is suggested. Kod odlučivanja u riziku i neizvjesnosti, poljoprivrednik bira između alternativa. Nema informacija o vjerojatnosti pojedinih informacija. U ovom radu predstavljamo primjer odlučivanja u riziku i neizvjesnosti aplikacijom klasičnih metoda, kao što su Waldov, Hurwiczov, Maximax, Savageov i Laplaceov kriterij, na primjeru proizvodnje i prerade uljanih tikva. U radu je predstavljena kompleksnost i korisnost računatih parametara. Rad je zaključen s agregacijom rezultata. Razultati kažu da je najprimjerenija poslovna alternativa 1.

The paper presents the application possibility of "Effect size" and Cohen's-d index in the case of introduction of new milk products on the market. The field and online survey were used to establish the potential interest of finalconsumers for new functional food product of dairy company in Slovenia - milk with phytosterols additives. Two techniques possibilities of Cohen-d index were calculated manual and using the Cohen's-d calculator. Further, the application is focused on two main questions in survey regarding observed problem: 1) Would you buy milk with phytosterols additives, which scientifically proven lowers concentration of cholesterol in blood? 2) Would you pay for it at a higher price? The sample includes 419 surveys, 150 surveyswere conducted on field (control group) and 269 surveys were provided online (experimental group). The Cohenćs-d index (d) results show by using manual and Cohen's-d calculator for both groups "small" effect (d=0.35, i.e. d=0.34 ), and "zero or near zero" effect (d=0.15, i.e.= 0.15) when deciding to buy new milk product. U ovom radu prikazan je primjer mogućosti primjene “Utjecaja veličine” i Cohen-d indeksa u slučaju plasiranja novog mliječnog proizvoda na tržište. Terenska i online anketa korištene su za ocjenjivanje potencijalnog interesa potrošača za kupnju novog, funkcionalnog mliječnog proizvoda u Sloveniji - mlijeko s aditivom fitosterolom. Korišten je izračun za dvije vrste Cohen-d indeksa, ručno i pomoću Cohen’s-d kalkulatora na primjeru dvaju glavnih pitanja: 1) Zainteresirani ste za kupnju mlijeka s aditivom fitosterola, koji znanstveno dokazuje sniženje koncentracije kolesterola u krvi i 2) Spremni ste platiti za taj proizvod veću cijenu? Uzorak obuhvaća 419 anketa, od toga provedeno je 150 anketa na terenu (kontrolna skupina), dok je 269 anketa provedeno online (eksperimentalna skupina). Cohen-d indeks (d) rezultati prikazani su za dva prije spomenuta načina izračuna, “mali” učinak (d=0,35, odnosno d=0,34) i “nula ili blizu nule” učinak (d=0,15, odnosno = 0,15).

This study examined the multi-criteria assessment of four dairy products: "Pomursko mlejko" (Pomurje milk), "Lejko mleko" (light milk), "Fyto mleko" (Fyto milk) and "Posneto mleko v prahu" (dried milk). The research was executed by using a multi-criteria methodology, DEX, which was complemented by an econometric analysis for light milk to estimate the trends in production and consumption before analyzed dairy products were implemented on the market. DEXi computer program results indicated that all analyzed milk products were 'above average'. The econometric model was applied to examine changes in the demand for low-fat milk (light milk). Empirical results showed significant consumer response to the increase in the prices of low-fat milk demonstrating income elasticity (1,15 unit). Multikriterijski pristup ocjenjivanja mliječnih proizvoda u smislu upotrebe DEX bio je nadograđen ekonometrijskom analizom za ocjenjivanje proizvodnih i potrošačkih trendova prije negoli su analizirani proizvodi uvršteni u prodaju. Studija istražuje četiri različita mliječna proizvoda odnosno proizvodne alternative: “Pomursko mlejko”, “Lejko mleko”, “Fyto mleko” i “Posneto mleko v prahu”. Rezultati DEXi analize ukazuju na to da se svi analizirani mliječni proizvodi svrstavaju u kategoriju “iznadprosječni”. Istraživana je mogućnost poboljšanja situacije s mlijekom u prahu preko povećanja njegove distribucijske moći na tržištu, te je pri tome upotrijebljena “what-if‘” (“što-ako”) analiza. U zadnjoj fazi izgrađen je ekonometrijski model za ocjenjivanje promjena u strukturi potraživanja mlijeka s malim postotkom masnoće. Empirijski rezultati pokazali su veliku reakciju kupaca na promjene u cijenama te vrste mlijeka, s relativno visokim vrijednostima elastičnosti potraživanja (1,15 jedinice).

The attention of this paper is drawn to analyze the economic potential of involvement of farmers into the small-medium sized value-based food chain (VBFC). The survey represents a solid data basis from which econometric modelling approach was further developed. Empirical results reveal the positive economic viability on a general level this means more stable purchase price of raw milk for dairy farms, which are the part of value-based food chain. Results point at inelastic demand for milk and milk related products. Furthermore, there are some accompanying and underlying indirect social benefits, such as production of high-quality food products, more stable and constant demand for raw milk, steady payments and better social situation. The last one is especially important for the farms operating in less-favored mountain areas where the survey was actually conducted. Cilj rada je analizirati ekonomske koristi uključenosti poljoprivrednika u male i srednje velike prehrambene lance temeljene na vrijednosti proizvoda. Istraživanjem su prikupljeni podatci pomoću kojih je razvijen ekonometrijski model. Empirijski rezultati pokazuju pozitivne ekonomske koristi. Na općoj razini, to znači stabilniju otkupnu cijenu sirovog mlijeka za mliječne farme koje su dio prehrambenog lanca temeljenog na vrijednosti. Rezultati pokazuju neelastičnu potražnju za mlijekom i proučavanim mliječnim proizvodima. Nadalje, tu se pokazuju i neke društvene koristi, kao što je proizvodnja visokokvalitetnih prehrambenih proizvoda, stabilnija i postojana potražnja za sirovim mlijekom, što u konačnici poljoprivrednicima donosi stabilan prihod i bolju socijalnu situaciju. Posljednje je posebno važno za poljoprivredna gospodarstva u područjima s težim uvjetima gospodarenja gdje je istraživanje i provedeno.

Background: The sugar beet is the main field crop used for sugar production in the temperate climatic zone. The abolishment of the quota system will open new investment opportunities in countries that were forced to abandon sugar industry as the result of the reform in 2006. Present paper describes the modeling of sugar beet production and its processing into sugar for purpose of decision support. Methods: A system dynamics methodology was chosen to model impacts of regional sugar factory investment. We present two basic concepts of system dynamics models at causal loop diagram level. The first holistic model deals with regional planning of new product development and the second one deals with factory model. Results: The holistic model presented main feedback loops and dynamics of main elements in the case of regional investment into sugar industry. The factory model considered the specifics of the beet processing which is a) limited period of beet processing and b) initial adjustment to the production capacity at the start of the production season Conclusions: The model seeks answers to strategic questions related to the whole sugar beet production and processing system and will be used for simulation of different scenarios for sugar production and their impact on economic and environmental parameters at an aggregate level. Ozadje: Sladkorna pesa je glavna kultura, ki se uporablja za proizvodnjo sladkorja v našem klimatskem pasu. Ukinitev Sistema kvot z letom 2016 odpira možnosti ponovne vzpostavitve proizvodnje v članicah EU, ki so se ji bile prisiljene odreči v letu 2006. V članku predstavljamo možnost uporabe modelov sistemske dinamike za potrebe podpore odločanju pri investicijah v sladkorno industrijo. Metoda: Na nivoju vzročnega diagrama predstavljamo 2 modela sistemske dinamike. Prvi je holistični in predstavlja primer ocenejvanja efektov investicije v sladkorno insustrijo. Drugi model se pa ukvarja z delovanjem tovarne. Rezultati: Holistični model predstavlja vse povratne zanke v ssitemu sladkorne industrije na regionalnem nivoju. Model proizvodnje pa se ukvarja z delovanjem tovarne. Zaključk: Model omogoča iskanje odgovorov na strateška vprašanja in se bo uporabljal pri ocenejvanju scenarijev investicij v proizvodnjo sladkorja in njihovega vpliva ne proizvodno-ekonomske in okoljske parametre.

Purpose: Organic and integrated production of vegetables are the two most common production systems in Slovenia. The study analyzed two production systems with different cultures as alternatives with purpose to find the most appropriate variants. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study based on the development and integration of developed specific technological- economic simulation models for the production of vegetables (salad, growing peppers, salad cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, round and cherry tomato) in greenhouse and multi-criteria decision analysis. The methodology of the study based on the DEX methodology and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) of organic (ECO) and integrated production (IP) in greenhouse. Results: The evaluation results show that both cultivation methods of commercially attractive vegetables in greenhouse are variable. In the case of integrated production, the assessment of multi-criteria decision analysis EC and DEXi showed that salad (Donertie F1) proved to be the best possible alternative. In the case of organic production, the multi-criteria analysis assessment of pickling cucumbers (Harmony F1) is the best possible business alternative. Conclusion: For the further production planning process by decision maker is the ranking with Expert Choice (EC) more useful and precise, while the DEX evaluations are more descriptive. Namen: V Sloveniji sta ekološki in integriran način pridelave zelenjave med najpomembnejšimi proizvodnimi sistemi. Študija predstavlja analizo dveh proizvodnih sistemov, ki vključujeta pridelavo različnih zelenjadnic. Namen raziskave je več-kriterijska ocena najprimernejše poslovne alternative. Struktura/Metodologija/Pristop: Raziskava temelji na razvoju in povezavi specifičnih tehnološko-ekonomskih simulacijskih modelov za pridelavo zelenjave (solate, paprike, solatnih kumar, kumar za vlaganje, okroglega paradižnika in grozdastega paradižnika) v zaščitenem prostoru in več-kriterijski odločitveni analizi. Podlaga raziskavi je metodologija DEX in analitični hierarhični proces (AHP) za ekološko (EKO) in integrirano pridelave (IP) omenjenih zelenjadnic. Rezultati: Rezultati vrednotenja kažejo, da sta za pridelovalca spremenljiva oba načina pridelave tržno zanimivih zelenjadnic v zaščitenem prostoru. Pri integrirani pridelavi se je z oceno večkriterijske odločitvene analize EC in DEXi solata (Donertie F1) izkazala za najboljšo možno alternativo. Pri ekološki pridelavi so se kot najboljša možna alternativa izkazale kumare za vlaganje (Harmony F1). Zaključki: Za nosilca odločanja in lažje načrtovanje proizvodnje zelenjadnic v rastlinjaku je tako rangiranje na osnovi EC bolj natančno in koristno kot rangiranje s pomočjo DEXi orodja

Background and Purpose: The sugar beet is the main field crop used for sugar production in the temperate climatic zone. Since investment in sugar beet industry are long term and ireversible the decision support and economic analysis are required in order to maximise investment returns. Methodology: A system dynamics methodology was chosen to model the impacts of regional sugar factory investments. We present the basic concepts of system dynamics (SD) models and their development in the case of sugar beet production and processing systems. Sugar beet economics are also analyzed using the static technological economic simulation model. Results: The simulation provides answers to strategic questions related to the total sugar beet production and processing system and will be used for the simulation of different scenarios for sugar production and their impact on economic and environmental parameters at an aggregate level. Furthermore, the feasibility analysis of sugar beet production revealed that at the current price and intensity levels (yields), we can expect profitable sugar beet production for both white sugar and ethanol. Conclusion: Preliminary results show that under expected production parameters the sugar beet processing and production would be economically feasible. Ozadje in namen: Sladkorna pesa je glavna kultura, ki se uporablja za proizvodnjo sladkorja v zmernem klimatskem pasu. Ker so naložbe v predelavo sladkorne pese dolgoročne in ireverzibilne, je z uporabo ustreznih orodij potrebno odločitve pretehtati Metodologija: Metodologija sistemske dinamike je bila izbrana za podporo odločanju na regionalnem nivoju pri planiranju investicij v predelavo sladkorne pese. Predstavljamo osnovne pojme sistemske dinamike (SD) in razvoj modela pridelave in predelave sladkorne pese in predelovalnih sistemih. S pomočjo tehnološko ekonomskega simulacijskega modela pa analiziramo ekonomiko pridelave sladkorne pese. Rezultati: Model ponuja odgovore na strateška vprašanja, ki so povezana s predelavo sladkorne pese in bo uporabljen za simulacijo različnih scenarijev za proizvodnjo sladkorja in njihovega vpliva na gospodarske in okoljske parametre na agregatni ravni. Analiza ekonomske upravičenosti proizvodnje sladkorne pese je pokazala, da pri sedanjih cenah in intenzivnosti pridelave (pričakovan pridelek), lahko pričakujemo dobičkonosno proizvodnjo sladkorne pese tako za beli sladkor kot etanol. Zaključek: Preliminarni rezultati so pokazali, da ob doseganju predvidenih parametrov lahko pričakujemo ekonomsko upravičeno pridelavo in predelavo sladkorne pese.

Early information on yield has a special importance in the intensive apple production. Since the majority of older forecast methods are labor, time, organization and cost intensive a hybrid model based on image analysis and neural network was developed. From the end of fruit thinning in June till harvesting digital images of 120 trees of yellow-skin ‘Golden Delicious’ (four times) and 120 trees of red-skin ‘Braeburn’ (five times) were captured from intensive orchards. Firstly, each image was processed by image analysis algorithm to receive the data on number of fruits and a yield forecast, for each sampling period separately, which served as the input information for modeling the yield with the artificial neural network (ANN). The forecast of the hybrid method showed a higher accuracy than the image analysis for both varieties, since the new procedure managed to increase the correlation between the forecasted and weighed yield from 0.73 to 0.83 for ‘Golden Delicious’ and from 0.51 to 0.78 for ‘Braeburn’. The standard deviation/image was decreased from 4.79 to 2.83 kg for ‘Golden Delicious’ and from 3.64 to 2.55 kg for ‘Braeburn’. To introduce the new method in practice, additional tests on various locations including all important apple varieties are recommended.

Since 2011 one of the new types of food chains has been often described in scientific literature. It is called value-based food chains (VBFC) and referred to as the food chains with added values. The added values are usually expressed through three different ways such as i) high quality food products, ii) different protected designations and iii) fair business relationships among the actors in food chain. This paper discusses which are the indicators for identifying the added values and additionally unravels different social and economic interactions between actors among the supply chain, also recognized as the characteristics of VBFC.