Mathematical Model for Optimal Agri-Food Industry Residual Streams Flow Management: A Valorization Decision Support Tool

Íñigo Barasoain-Echepare (), Marta Zárraga-Rodríguez, Adam Podhorski, Fernando M. Villar-Rosety, Leire Besga-Oyanarte, Sofía Jaray-Valdehierro, Tamara Fernández-Arévalo, Luis Sancho, Eduardo Ayesa, Jesús Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez and Xabier Insausti
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Íñigo Barasoain-Echepare: Tecnun School of Engineering, University of Navarra, Manuel de Lardizábal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Marta Zárraga-Rodríguez: Tecnun School of Engineering, University of Navarra, Manuel de Lardizábal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Adam Podhorski: Tecnun School of Engineering, University of Navarra, Manuel de Lardizábal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Fernando M. Villar-Rosety: Tecnun School of Engineering, University of Navarra, Manuel de Lardizábal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Leire Besga-Oyanarte: CEIT Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Manuel de Lardizábal 15, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Sofía Jaray-Valdehierro: CEIT Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Manuel de Lardizábal 15, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Tamara Fernández-Arévalo: CEIT Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Manuel de Lardizábal 15, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Luis Sancho: CEIT Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Manuel de Lardizábal 15, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Eduardo Ayesa: CEIT Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Manuel de Lardizábal 15, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Jesús Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez: Tecnun School of Engineering, University of Navarra, Manuel de Lardizábal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Xabier Insausti: Tecnun School of Engineering, University of Navarra, Manuel de Lardizábal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain

Mathematics, 2024, vol. 12, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: We present a mathematical model for agri-food industry residual streams flow management, which serves as a decision support tool for optimizing their valorization. The aim is to determine, under a cost-benefit analysis approach, the best strategy at a global level. The proposed mathematical model provides the optimal valorization scenario, namely the set of routes followed by agri-food industry residual streams that maximizes the total profit obtained. The model takes into account the complete stoichiometry of the residual stream at each step of the valorization route. Furthermore, the model allows for the calculations of different scenarios to support decision-making. The proposed approach is illustrated through a case study using a real-case network of a region. The case study bears evidence that the use of the model can lead to significant profit increases compared to those obtained with current practices. Moreover, notable profit improvements are obtained in the case study if the selling price of all the value-added products considered increases or if the processing cost of the animal feed producer decreases. Therefore, our model enables the detection of key factors that influence the optimal strategy, making it a powerful decision-support tool for optimizing the valorization of agri-food industry residual streams.

Keywords: agri-food residual streams; valorization; optimization; mathematical modeling; value chain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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