Agent-Based Modelling of Adoption of Novel Proteins in the UK: Impacts and Interactions with Transitions to Sustainable Systems

战略主题：数学科学，能源研究领域(S)：资源效率，非线性系统该项目的研究目标：可持续蛋白质来源是实现全球气候目标的关键组成部分。然而，仍然存在许多不确定性，特别是关于这种技术-社会转型可能如何发生的不确定性。这项研究旨在开发对个人决策的现实计算模拟，以了解这一“如何”。关键目标是构建一个自下而上的模型，该模型可以在适当的不确定性下可靠地模拟英国消费者采用新型可持续蛋白质(例如基于植物的、基于细胞的、昆虫的)的轨迹，并提出假设情景，以生成一系列可能结果的证据。其中分析了几个联合国可持续发展目标(SDG)之间的相互作用--即饥饿(SDG2)、能源(SDG7)、健康(SDG3)、土地(SDG14)、水(SDG6)和气候(SDG13)系统。具体地说，它试图回答以下问题--阻碍英国消费者广泛采用新蛋白质的加速器和障碍如何影响可持续的食品转型和相关系统？EPSRC职权范围内的这项研究的新科学方法。这名学生将做什么？该项目将使用基于代理的建模(ABM)方法来模拟英国公众对新型蛋白质的采用。这项研究的新奇元素是双重的。该项目使用ABM方法，是第一批对这一特定过渡进行建模的项目之一。它追求的是一种系统主导的方法，跨越研究学科，吸收来自数学和社会科学的证据和数据。其次，随着许多不同方法的应用，可持续发展目标之间的相互作用继续引起广泛的研究兴趣。然而，到目前为止，还没有人采用ABM方法。该项目的成果将提供现有方法难以捕捉的新见解，例如相互作用的非线性和不可预测性。此外，它将向政策制定者提供证据，说明如何最好地支持新蛋白质的吸收，并向工业和制造商提供有科学依据的消费者采用轨迹。具体地说，学生将学习在个人层面上接受或拒绝传统蛋白质替代品(例如基于植物的、基于细胞的和昆虫的替代品)的因素如何在社会层面上发挥作用，以及采用和大众行为改变可能的非线性、路径依赖的性质。学生还将采用系统方法，将这些食物选择与一系列能源、温室气体排放、健康、土地和水影响联系起来，以了解更广泛的可持续发展相互作用及其对资源效率的影响。

Strategic themes: Mathematical Sciences, EnergyResearch Area(s): Resource Efficiency, Non-Linear SystemsResearch objectives of the project: Sustainable protein sources are a key component in achieving global climate goals. However, much uncertainty remains, especially with regards to how this techno-social transition may occur. The research aims to develop realistic computational simulations of individual decision-making to understand this 'how'. The key objective is to construct a bottom-up model that can reliably, with appropriate uncertainty, simulate trajectories of the adoption of novel sustainable protein (e.g. plant-based, cell-based, insect) in British consumers, and pose 'what-if' scenarios to generate evidence of a range of possible outcomes. Embedded in this is the analysis of interactions between several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - namely hunger (SDG2), energy (SDG7), health (SDG3), land (SDG14), water (SDG6) and climate (SDG13) systems. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following question - how may accelerators and barriers to widespread adoption of novel proteins by British consumers impact sustainable food transitions and related systems?The novel science methodology of the research within EPSRC's remit. What will the student be doing?The project will employ an agent-based modelling (ABM) approach to simulate the adoption of novel proteins within the British public. The novel element of this research is twofold. This project, using an ABM approach, is among the first to model this particular transition. It pursues a systems led approach that cuts across research disciplines, assimilating evidence and data from the mathematical and social sciences. Secondly, the interactions between SDGs continues to receive much research interest, with a number of different methods being applied. However, none to date have employed an ABM approach. The outputs of this project will offer new insights that existing methods have difficulty in capturing, for example the non-linearity and unpredictability of interactions. Furthermore, it will provide evidence to policymakers on how best to support uptake of novel proteins, and to industry and manufacturers on scientifically grounded consumer adoption trajectories. Specifically, the student will be studying how the factors for acceptance or rejection for conventional protein substitutes (e.g. plant-based, cell-based, and insect alternatives) at the individual level, may play out at societal level, and the possible non-linear, path dependent nature of adoption and mass behaviour change. The student will also, taking a systems approach, link these food choices to a set of energy, greenhouse gas emissions, health, land, and water impacts to understand wider SDG interactions and the consequences for resource efficiency.