Reflection on geospatial approaches to geographic research applied to the modeling of agricultural systems

At the center of global initiatives, various approaches are being discussed and realigned to achieve global objectives for production and food security for the present and future generations. However, agricultural systems, which are the main biogeophysical source for ensuring nutritional benefits and global food security, undergo changes over time. In the coming decades, these systems will face complex challenges associated with changes in food consumption patterns, climate change, land abandonment and/or intensification of land use. The ability of these systems to support global food security will be determined by their efficiency, sustainability, and equity. The integration of geospatial approaches to geographical research offers a practical opportunity to model agricultural systems, which, in turn, can contribute to obtaining new data that assist in decision-making processes, anticipating future changes, and projecting long-term robust strategies to manage imminent challenges. This article presents a reflection on the development and integration of spatial analysis, geospatial data, and simulation models in the field of agricultural systems, highlighting and exemplifying different modeling techniques and geospatial technologies to support current and future research needs.