OPTIMIZATION APPROACHES FOR PLANNING THE PITAYA AGRIBUSINESS SUPPLY CHAIN

Among the globally significant fruit crops, pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) production has become widely disseminated in tropical and subtropical countries due to its high added value and nutritional properties. Despite its promising outlook, the pitaya supply chain still faces challenges related to efficient production management and strategic planning of agricultural activities. Aiming to support strategic decision-making and better utilization of resources available for pitaya production, this study presents an optimization model based on mathematical programming. Initially, a literature review was conducted, covering agronomic and economic aspects of the crop. Subsequently, technical visits were carried out to a partner grower involved in the research to collect data on cultivation practices. Based on this information, an optimization model was proposed to define the tactical-strategic planning of two pitaya varieties over a fifteen-year horizon. Implemented in Python and solved using the Gurobi solver, the model considers variables such as cultivated area, plant age, variety-specific prices, productivity, demand, and physical limitations of the property. The objective function aims to maximize the grower's profit while complying with management and production capacity constraints. The results indicate that the model can suggest efficient planting and cutting strategies, reducing losses and optimizing land use over time. The study highlights the potential of pitaya as a high-value crop and the importance of collaboration between academic research and the productive sectors of the economy.