A New approach for co-ordinate logistics flows in agribusiness chains based on Petri nets: an application to castor bean biodiesel supply chain

Abstract

Nowadays many countries present critical problems related to energy demand-supply equilibrium. Petroleum-based products has been used as energy sources since Industrial Revolution but it is well known that they are not environmental friendly and reserves of this source are unable to face future demand for more than three decades. So, the focus on alternative sources has been strongly directed to biomass. This word is used to designate several fruit oils (including castor bean oil) which present the characteristics of being sustainable sources which are also entitled with the advantage of being a labor intensive source, adequate to underdeveloped tropical regions. This paper put forward a new approach, based on the principles of Supervisory Control Theory and Petri nets, aiming the coordination of logistics flows in agribusiness chains, focusing the castor bean biodiesel supply chain. A framework for supervisory control in logistics systems is proposed. Most of the relevant activities in the castor bean biodiesel supply chain were surveyed to support the proposed modeling process. A mathematical model was developed using Petri nets and the control constraints of the model could be determined through computational simulation. Several scenarios could be conceived and the controlled system presented an acceptable performance. As conclusion, it seems clear that the proposed approach is a feasible and useful tool for the modeling, control and analysis of agribusiness chains.