Model Limitations

OptiGob is designed as an exploratory decision-support tool for Ireland’s AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) sector. While it provides a flexible platform for testing climate and land-use transition pathways, several limitations should be noted.

Climate Neutrality Verification

OptiGob does not guarantee that user-defined configurations achieve climate neutrality.
Users must verify whether selected pathways meet chosen targets.

Scenario and Data Constraints

  • The default SQLite database includes a limited set of predefined combinations for certain parameters (e.g., wetland restoration levels, forestry on organic soils).

  • Target years are currently capped at 2050, reflecting the availability of agricultural and animal productivity data.

  • Users can extend these limits by supplying a customised database.

Assumptions and Uncertainty

Default emissions factors and productivity assumptions are based on nationally representative datasets and technical mitigation pathways.
They do not capture uncertainty in adoption rates, behavioural responses, or emerging technologies.

Model Scope

  • The model operates at the national scale only; spatial differentiation (e.g., catchment-level or regional variation) is not yet implemented.

  • Economic feedbacks (e.g., price, trade, or demand effects) are not currently represented.