Optimizing bio-belt locations for efficient agricultural land use

Abstract The aim of the paper is to present a mathematical programming model for optimizing the location of bio-belts in agricultural landscapes. The proposed model balances crop production and biodiversity conservation. Bio-belts represent an advanced form of vegetated field margins that improve ecosystem functions and reduce environmental impacts associated with intensive agriculture. The proposed approach uses a distance geometry formulation that enables the flexible placement of multiple bio-belts within irregularly shaped fields. The optimization problem aims to minimize the total unproductive area while ensuring that all parts of the cultivated land remain within an ecologically effective distance of the nearest bio-belt. The resulting nonlinear model is solved using a differential evolution algorithm. An illustrative case study shows the applicability of the proposed approach and illustrates the trade-off between cultivated and conservation areas. The results suggest that the model can serve as a decision-support tool for sustainable land management and may be integrated with precision agriculture and Agriculture 4.0 systems.