EURO 2024 Copenhagen
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4026. Quadratic Optimization for Sustainable Agriculture – A Study of Mixed Cropping Systems

Invited abstract in session WC-13: Sustainable Food Supply, stream Secure & Sustainable Food Supply.

Wednesday, 12:30-14:00
Room: 15 (building: 116)

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Edhem Sakarya
Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology
2. Sonja Rohmer
Department of Logistics and Operations Management, HEC Montreal
3. Rolf Van Lieshout
Operations, Planning, Accounting and Control, Eindhoven University of Technology
4. Tom van Woensel
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

Abstract

Mixed cropping systems present a promising solution to conventional agriculture by combining multiple crops within one field, thus increasing biodiversity and soil health, yet pose new planning challenges in terms of plant assignment and crop scheduling. To address this issue, we propose a novel decision problem in which crops need to be assigned to different farms and fields over time, taking into consideration a range of diverse factors, including plant interactions, field characteristics, and growth conditions, as well as the demand and geographical location of the customers. In this research, we formulate this problem as a mixed-integer quadratically constrained optimization model aimed at maximizing the total yield and propose a column generation-based approach to solve larger instances. Preliminary results show that our approach outperforms commercial solvers in terms of speed and solution quality. In addition, we present a managerial analysis on the effects of companion planting and the broader implications for farmers, enriching the discussion on mixed cropping systems and sustainable agriculture.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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