Otimização biobjetivo do transporte rodoferroviário da soja de Goiás para exportação: aspectos econômicos e ambientais

Abstract

This study focuses on improving the road-rail transportation of soybeans produced in Goiás for export, with the aim of achieving a more sustainable supply chain. Given that Brazil is the world leader in soybean production and that the State of Goiás is the third largest national producer, significant economic and environmental challenges are identified in the transportation of this product. The research proposes an optimized solution that reconciles logistics efficiency with sustainability, adopting green logistics practices to reduce freight costs and CO2 emissions. Two main analyses were carried out: first, the financial and environmental impact resulting from the implementation of the Rumo Malha Central (RMC) railroad from March 2021, exploring different transportation configurations for 2022, and then, with a view to 2035, the use of deterministic bi-objective optimization using Pareto frontiers, a methodology that seeks balanced solutions between reducing costs and CO2 emissions. The 2035 analysis included data from 46 municipalities in Goiás, six transshipment points and four ports, including Ilhéus/BA and São Luiz/MA (Itaqui). In the analysis of the impact of including the RMC, the results indicated significant savings with the activation of the RMC, with emphasis on the reduction of 11 million reais in freight costs and 3 million due to the reduction of 38,625 tons of CO2e. The projection for 2035 showed an increase in the use of road-rail transport from 34% to 69%, with a preference for rail routes that, despite being longer, prioritized minimizing emissions, implying an increase in transport costs. However, analysis of an intermediate point on the Pareto curve revealed a balance between costs and emissions, providing a benchmark for conscious transportation decisions. The results of the optimized strategy showed different indications of costs and CO2 emissions, exploring different route options, and providing valuable insights for soybean transportation logistics. The integration of viable road-rail transshipment points in the forecast horizon is suggested to improve logistics, highlighting the bio-objective approach that goes beyond conventional cost minimization, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation that considers economic and environmental aspects. Despite the methodological limitations and the need for estimation, this study highlights the need to adapt the logistics infrastructure to promote a greener supply chain. Future research could expand the application of optimization models and address other elements of road-rail transportation