About Us
The APSIM Initiative
The APSIM initiative (AI) was established in 2007 to promote the development and use of the science modules and infrastructure software of APSIM.
The Foundation Members of the AI are CSIRO, the State of Queensland and The University of Queensland. AgResearch Ltd., New Zealand became a party in 2015 followed by the University of Southern Queensland in 2017. In March 2020, Iowa State University, US, became a member. Most recently, Plant & Food Research (NZ), joined in 2021. New parties are welcome to apply to join. Principles of Membership can be found here: Membership Principles
The AI is managed by a Steering Committee, with a Reference Panel providing advice on matters relating to APSIM development, in particular Science Quality and Software Development. The AI Strategic Plan can be found here: Strategic Plan.
As part of the continual development of APSIM, the Development Plan outlines the current work being undertaken. We welcome input from all APSIM developers to contribute to the APSIM GitHub repositories.
Objectives of the APSIM Initiative:
The AI enables developments in agricultural systems modelling to be captured more rapidly and effectively within the APSIM infrastructure, regardless of membership. Specifically the Objectives are to:
1. Create a joint venture of research bodies that wish to lead and contribute to the ongoing development and use of APSIM;
2. Co-develop and manage APSIM as a high quality, world class research tool in its field and;
3. Ensure that APSIM is developed by the facilitation of broadly based collaborative science.
To achieve these objectives the AI provides:
- An open and transparent environment facilitating broadly based collaborative science;
- Best practice Software Development and Maintenance;
- Science quality control;
- Free public good licensing (for R&D, extension and educational use);
- Commercial licensing;
- APSIM Training
- APSIM Support
