Purpose This study aims to analyze the complexities of the Brazilian soybean supply chain (SSC) and develop strategic interventions to improve the origin system’s performance. Design/methodology/approach This study used stakeholder interviews to identify the SSC bottlenecks and determine and assess drivers of competitiveness. A methodological framework based on the systems thinking approach for developing long-term structural changes was used. The problem was structured using behavior over time graph and causal loop modeling to propose three investment strategies to solve the logistics problem in SSC. Findings This study highlights the gaps in coordination between stakeholders and the public sector regarding the public policy for infrastructure investment. Three strategic interventions were developed to address the agro-industrial logistical problem, namely, investment in storage, multimodal transport systems and improvements in existing transport infrastructure. To overcome transport and storage logistics limitations, the authors suggest different forms of partnerships, including public-private partnerships. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to evaluating an agricultural commodity (soybean) and does not include its by-products. The sample of stakeholders was limited and the boundary of analysis was Brazil. Nevertheless, the study showed how strategic interventions could be developed following a holistic analysis. Practical implications The proposed integrated approach illustrates the development of three strategic initiatives. It can be implemented by stakeholders, including the public sector, which is the basis for providing assertive long-term investments in Brazilian logistics. Social implications The SSC analysis could promote the implementation of systemically determined interventions and strategies. It could significantly improve the performance of agricultural systems and help the formulation of public policies aimed at rural development. Originality/value The use of system dynamics to identify intervention points is an essential contribution to mitigating the SSC’s hindrances. Moreover, the combining methodologies resulted in comprehensive intervention strategies.

Por toda sorte de apoios e contribuições a esta dissertação, minha gratidão: Primeiramente, à Deus, por ser minha força e meu refúgio.À minha família e amigos pelo suporte e incentivo. À Professora Dra. Andréa Leda Ramos de Oliveira, pela amizade, estímulo e paciência em todas as etapas deste trabalho.À banca, composta pelas Professoras Dra. Vanilde Ferreira de Souza Esquerdo e Dra. Raquel Pereira de Souza, pelas importantes dicas e correções.Aos amigos do Laboratório de Logística e Comercialização Agroindustrial (LOGICOM) pelo convívio e troca de experiências, em especial para as pesquisadoras Bruna Fernanda Ribeiro Lopes e Karina Braga Marsola, pelo companheirismo durante essa jornada.À toda equipe da Pós-graduação da Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola -FEAGRI pela oportunidade.Por fim, à todos os especialistas entrevistados durante esse trabalho, pela disponibilidade e conhecimento compartilhado.O presente trabalho foi realizado com apoio da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior -Brasil (CAPES) -Código de Financiamento 001. RESUMOO Brasil é o segundo maior produtor mundial de soja e o maior exportador. Apesar do crescente destaque no mercado internacional nas últimas safras, atividades relacionadas ao escoamento desse produto ameaçam essa posição. Em função da importância econômica desse grão, estudos sobre sua competitividade se fazem necessários. A identificação dos direcionadores de competitividade da soja destinada ao mercado internacional e a mensuração de seus impactos no processo de exportação testa a hipótese de que os entraves relacionados à logística sejam os principais limitadores da competitividade do grão. Para tanto, a metodologia utilizada considera o caráter sistêmico de diferentes fatores que afetam o sistema de maneira positiva ou negativa.A aplicação da metodologia se deu com base em um estudo de caso envolvendo especialistas das principais empresas pertencentes ao segmento originadores. O direcionador Infraestrutura Logística é o único desfavorável, resultando do déficit de armazenagem e da baixa capacidade de intermodalidade de transporte. Além disso, os direcionadores Ambiente Institucional e a Estrutura de Mercado são uma ameaça a competitividade devido à complexidade do sistema tributário brasileiro e as distorções provocadas na cadeia pelas diferentes forças dos agentes.

The last Brazilian agricultural frontier known as MATOPIBA, an acronym for the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piaui and Bahia, is a region that has stood out in the scenario of modern large-scale agriculture intensive in capital and technology. However, barriers related to the transportation system, especially regarding the high logistics costs, have been negatively impacting this sector. To optimize the performance of this chain, a model for minimizing transportation costs was developed, using linear programming with an origin-destination matrix. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate whether the use of the North-South Railroad has potential as a new alternative intermodal route for soybean export from the MATOPIBA region, in order to minimize the transportation costs and promote the viability of new ports located in the northeast region of the country. This configuration can also contribute to reduce the overload of Santos Port (SP). Two scenarios were proposed based on the 2016/17 harvest of soybeanwhere the first scenario (A) consisted only of road routes, while the second (B), in addition to these routes, incorporated road-rail and road-water way intermodal routes. As a result, total transportation cost was reduced by 30% in scenario B and about half of all cargo was shipped by the new intermodal road-rail route to the Itaqui Port in the Northeast region. This configuration promotes a more sustainable logistics chain for soy, with more rational use of transport modes and decentralization of investments to other regions.

Brazil is the world’s second-largest producer of soybeans and the largest exporter. Despite the growing importance in the international market in the last harvests, activities related to this product threaten this position. Due to its economic importance for the country, this study aims to identify the competitiveness drivers of soybean destined for the international market and to measure their impacts on the export process. Therefore, the used methodology considers the systemic character of different factors that affect the supply chain positively or negatively. As a result, the logistics infrastructure dimension was the only competitiveness driver classified as unfavorable among the analyzed factors. The advances in agribusiness are being subsequently followed by some sectors of the economy such as science and technology. On the other hand, the logistics sector has not been showing the same development, causing some weaknesses to persist, either due to the lack of infrastructure of transport production, or the inability to properly store the national harvest. The current challenge for the State is to ensure the maintenance of the quality of the infrastructure already installed and to promote an environment capable of attracting private capital and a new investment cycle.

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