How can plant modelling be a leverage for cropping system improvement by integrating plant physiology and smart horticulture?

The main objective of the workshop “How can plant modelling be a leverage for cropping system improvement by integrating plant physiology and smart horticulture?”, developed within the frame of IHC2022, was to promote a discussion on the utility of plant modelling in the management of horticultural crops. A better understanding of the physiological response of crops to interaction with environmental factors (temperature, light, CO₂, water and nutrients) and crop management (soil, irrigation, phytosanitary treatments) would allow to improve crop growth and production (fruit quality and/or yield), thereby saving resources that are becoming ever scarcer. Modelling is becoming more and more important for horticulture in the broadest sense, both to help advancing innovation and for a better understanding of the functioning of existing systems. This workshop was a great opportunity to create a platform for exchange between researchers working in different areas such as process-based models (PBM), Functional–structural plant models (FSPM) and greenhouse climate models (GCM). Interaction of different models is necessary to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of crop production. This workshop aimed to establish interactions between the different areas of modeling to obtain decision support tools for plant production in smart horticulture. A panel consisting of four researchers (two invited senior researchers, and the animators of the workshop) promoted an open discussion with the participants, on their views and experiences about the integration of plant physiology and smart horticulture. The workshop allowed an interdisciplinary discussion between scientists to identify the potential roles and new research directions of plant modelling. In this paper some points of common interest for all scientists working with crop models are presented based on the results of the discussion in the workshop and in published papers.