Adaptive Supply Chain System Design for Fruit Crops under Climate Change

Abstract

There is an urgent need for adaptive supply chain strategies that can mitigate the effects of climate change on the agricultural system. This study introduces a new mathematical model, Capacitated Facility Location Problems with Multi-Period (CFLP-MP), to respond to this challenge. Unlike existing models, the CFLP-MP framework is designed to optimize the supply chain system design of facility locations and transportation routes by accommodating changes in production and demand for multiple time periods. The proposed model can be extended to other time-sensitive agricultural foods, but in this research, it is applied to the U.S. apple industry as a case study. Despite varying conditions, the model demonstrates resilience in maintaining its operational efficiency, thereby offering a solution to the initial challenge of creating an adaptive agricultural supply chain system. In conclusion, this research offers a versatile toolset for enhancing resilience and sustainability in fruit crop production, precisely addressing the climate-induced challenges identified above.