The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) is a computer-based system designed to assist agricultural decision makers in understanding the outcomes of their decisions. Developed by an international team of scientists, DSSAT provides a framework for simulating crop production practices, estimating production, resource use, and risks. It includes crop-soil simulation models, databases for weather, soil, and crops, and strategy evaluation programs integrated with a main user interface. The system is intended to support spatial decision-making for site-specific farming, farm planning, and regional policy. DSSAT enhances scientific cooperation through research and has the potential to help decision makers by reducing the time and resources needed for analyzing complex decisions. The IBSNAT project, which successfully completed ten years of activities, led to the development of DSSAT and a global network of cooperators working on agricultural system models. The project was based on the premise that Earth's land resources are finite, while the number of people to be supported continues to grow. This creates a major challenge for agriculture, requiring increased production while protecting natural resources. Traditional research is insufficient to meet the information needs of farmers, policymakers, and other decision makers due to the time-consuming and expensive nature of traditional experiments, as well as the lack of research in developing countries. The IBSNAT project proposed a systems approach to transfer knowledge, as traditional research would be too time-consuming and inefficient. This approach allows for the development of system models that can predict the behavior of agricultural systems under various conditions. DSSAT was developed to operationalize this approach and make it available globally. Decision support systems (DSS) are interactive computer-based systems that help decision makers analyze complex decisions. DSSAT is designed to support all phases of the decision-making process, including identifying problems, analyzing possible solutions, and suggesting courses of action. Most agricultural decision aids are aimed at farmers and focus on improving operational decisions such as pest control and fertilizer management.The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) is a computer-based system designed to assist agricultural decision makers in understanding the outcomes of their decisions. Developed by an international team of scientists, DSSAT provides a framework for simulating crop production practices, estimating production, resource use, and risks. It includes crop-soil simulation models, databases for weather, soil, and crops, and strategy evaluation programs integrated with a main user interface. The system is intended to support spatial decision-making for site-specific farming, farm planning, and regional policy. DSSAT enhances scientific cooperation through research and has the potential to help decision makers by reducing the time and resources needed for analyzing complex decisions. The IBSNAT project, which successfully completed ten years of activities, led to the development of DSSAT and a global network of cooperators working on agricultural system models. The project was based on the premise that Earth's land resources are finite, while the number of people to be supported continues to grow. This creates a major challenge for agriculture, requiring increased production while protecting natural resources. Traditional research is insufficient to meet the information needs of farmers, policymakers, and other decision makers due to the time-consuming and expensive nature of traditional experiments, as well as the lack of research in developing countries. The IBSNAT project proposed a systems approach to transfer knowledge, as traditional research would be too time-consuming and inefficient. This approach allows for the development of system models that can predict the behavior of agricultural systems under various conditions. DSSAT was developed to operationalize this approach and make it available globally. Decision support systems (DSS) are interactive computer-based systems that help decision makers analyze complex decisions. DSSAT is designed to support all phases of the decision-making process, including identifying problems, analyzing possible solutions, and suggesting courses of action. Most agricultural decision aids are aimed at farmers and focus on improving operational decisions such as pest control and fertilizer management.