Otimização em roteamento de veículos para a exportação de soja no Brasil: modelagem e aplicação prática

Abstract

This study presents the development and application of a multi-objective optimization model for the Multi-Vehicle Transportation Problem (MVTP), focusing on the logistics of soybean exportation in Brazil. Soybean, as one of the country's main commodities, plays a strategic role in the national economy, requiring efficient logistics solutions that balance reduced costs and lower CO₂ emissions. Using real data on routes and logistics nodes, the model was implemented based on mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and the ε-constraint technique, enabling a bi-objective approach to minimize costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Three distinct scenarios were analyzed, each representing different logistical configurations and exploring the tradeoffs between economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. From the Pareto Fronts constructed for each scenario, the most relevant solutions were identified: those with the lowest cost, the lowest CO₂ emissions, and the best balance between the two criteria. The results demonstrated the model's robustness in meeting constraints on supply, demand, and capacity, as well as its flexibility to adapt to different logistical scenarios. Additionally, the analysis highlighted the importance of integrating strategic transshipment points into optimized routes to reduce emissions, even at the expense of increased costs. The solutions generated by the model provide a significant practical contribution to the logistical planning of the soybean supply chain, offering viable and sustainable alternatives for road transport in Brazil. Despite limitations related to the availability of real data, the model proved to be an effective tool to support strategic decision-making in the agricultural sector. The developed model provides optimized solutions for complex logistical problems, directly contributing to the reduction of environmental impacts associated with soybean transport while promoting a strategic balance between economic competitiveness and sustainability.