Vehicle Routing Problem in Sustainable Horticulture Supply Chain for Food Security Enhancement: a Case Study

The horticulture industry has a special role in the health of society due to its direct impact on the food security in society, so it is one of the important industries that affect the lives of all people. Also, due to the increase in the growth of the world population, the need for food is increasing day by day, so it is necessary to pay special attention to the horticulture industry to reduce the rate of hunger in the world, which causes various problems. This study focuses on the routing of vehicles to carry different kinds of horticultural products considering their shelf life to keep the stability and quality of these products at the highest level. This aim has been achieved through presenting a comprehensive multi-period MILP model for different types of horticultural products and various types of vehicles in the horticultural supply chain. A case study in European Union is also presented to analyze the efficacy of model. The outcome of this research could be proliferative for managers, decision makers, and policy designers of horticulture supply chain since it proffers avenues of sustainable production enhancement.