Thus, the CGMS version 8.0 gives the following advantages for the user compared to the version 2.3:
1. The forecast module includes the possibilities to apply the following approaches of yield forecast:

1. the current CGMS approach extended to all the indicators generated or included in the system:
   • simulated crop indicators (biomass-potential productivity level, storage organs biomass-potential productivity level, total biomass-water limited productivity level, storage organs biomass-water limited productivity level, potential leaf area index, water limited leaf area index, soil moisture, development stage, total water requirement as an output of CGMS, as well as outputs from the FAO Water Balance Model);
   • meteorological indicators (rain, temperature, climatic water balance, global radiation, potential evapotranspiration);
   • remote sensing indicators (greenness indexes, e.g. NDVI, CNDVI);
   • different combinations of the above-mentioned meteorological indicators (multivariate approach).
2. the scenario analysis: i.e. defining years-analogues (based on multivariate data analysis) for dynamics of:
   • simulated crop indicators;
   • meteorological indicators;
   • remote sensing indicators;
   • different combinations of the above-mentioned meteorological indicators (multivariate approach.
3. Applying user-specified equations of yield-indicator interrelations. The forecast is made on a basis of regionally established regressions between yield and separate meteorological parameters, calculated for fixed periods. The application must read selected parameters from the data base, and use these as input data for the forecast calculation.