1. An adaptive model-based control system for a refrigeration system, comprising: a sensor input, configured to receive refrigeration system operating parameters; a memory configured to store an adaptively-derived mathematical model of the refrigeration system, based on analysis over time of at least a response of the refrigeration system represented in the sensor input to at least one control signal; at least one automated processor configured to: receive the sensor input; determine if the adaptively-derived mathematical model is predictive of an actual refrigeration system performance based on at least the sensor input and the at least one control signal, and: if the adaptively-derived mathematical model is predictive of an actual refrigeration system performance, generate at least one control signal for controlling the refrigeration system in dependence on at least the model and the sensor input; and if the adaptively-derived mathematical model is not predictive of the actual refrigeration system performance, controlling the refrigeration system to selectively adaptively update the model based on at least the sensor input to increase predictiveness of the adaptively-derived mathematical model; and a control output configured to communicate the at least one control signal to the refrigeration system from the at least one automated processor.