Proposed new APSIM Joint Venture

There is in principle support from the current Agricultural Productions Systems Research Unit (APSRU) Board to form a new Unincorporated Joint Venture (UJV) for the ongoing development and management of the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM). Initially the new APSIM Initiative will be made up of the CSIRO, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and The University of Queensland, but will be open for new parties to join. It is proposed that this new venture will enable developments in agricultural systems modelling to be captured more rapidly and effectively within the APSIM infrastructure, regardless of membership. The aim of the APSIM UJV is to support the ongoing development and maintenance of a world class computer modelling framework for the testing and simulating of agricultural systems. Specifically the objectives of the new APSIM UJV will be:

• To create a joint venture of research bodies that wish to lead and contribute to the ongoing development and use of the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM);
• To co-develop and manage APSIM as a high quality world class research tool in its field and;
• To ensure that APSIM is developed by the facilitation of broadly based collaborative science.

The Core Functions of APSIM joint venture is to provide:

• An open and transparent ‘APSIM Community Source Framework’ (a modified ‘Open Source Framework’) facilitating broadly based collaborative science;
• Best practice Software Development and Maintenance;
• Science quality control;
• Best practice and simplified IP & risk management;
• Free public good licensing (R&D, extension and education);
• Commercial delivery arrangements (authorised by joint venture Management Committee);
• APSIM training (available as a fee for service activity);
• APSIM support (via a web based support forum and help desk);

To facilitate transition to these new arrangements access and pricing for APSIM has been reviewed to ensure new users or those who wish to renew licenses are not disadvantaged. A revised APSIM Licence Application Form reflects these transitional arrangements.