Optimizing supply chains of citrus products with analysis across several design configurations

IÑIGO MARTÍNEZ, M.E.; FUENTES, R.; PLOPPER, A.; PAZ, DORA; ARENA, A. P.

Environment Systems and Decisions

Springer

Año: 2025

In recent years, the citrus market has experienced a notable increase in demand, but concerns regarding economic and environmental sustainability have often led to short-term solutions. This study introduces a quantitative model designed tooptimize the citrus supply chain, with a focus on lemon production and by-products in Argentina. The objective is to maximize Net Present Value (NPV), while concurrently reducing environmental impacts, as measured by key indicators such as Global Warming Potential (GWP), RECIPE, and Water Footprint (WF). The model was implemented in Pyomo version 6.4.2 and solved using CPLEX. The model consists of 29,923 equations, 38,959 continuous variables, 3510 binary variables, and 820 integer variables spanning a period of five years. According to the study, Pareto-optimal alternatives are identified that strike a balance between environmental indicators and NPV, taking into account decision-makers? perspectives, values, and long-term goals. Based on environmental and cost considerations, the highest NPV is USD 780 million with strategically distributed technology configurations across the country. This research highlights the importance of balancing economic and environmental factors for sustainability in the citrus industry. The study enhances supply chain analysis by considering three environmental indicators and pioneering solutions for waste management and crop optimization in the Argentine lemon industry. Due to its adaptability, the model is applicable to different crops, supply chains, technologies, and regions, providing valuable insights to academia, professionals, and industry decision-makers regarding supply chain design and sustainability