Dr. Luis Miguel Plà-Aragonès 🇪🇸 is a renowned expert in Operations Research 🔍 and Decision Analysis 🧠, with a focus on applications in agriculture 🌾, economics 💹, and health systems 🏥. As a professor at the University of Lleida, Spain, he has made significant contributions through multi-criteria decision-making, optimization modeling, and policy analysis. His interdisciplinary approach bridges the gap between theory and real-world impact, particularly in areas like agricultural planning, resource allocation, and cost-effectiveness analysis. 📊 With numerous publications 📚 and collaborations across Europe and Latin America 🌍, Dr. Plà-Aragonès is recognized for advancing the role of decision science in solving complex societal challenges. He is a dedicated mentor 👨🏫, respected academic, and a driving force behind the integration of quantitative models into sustainable decision-making practices. ♻️
Professional Profile
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🎓 Education
Dr. Luis Miguel Plà-Aragonès holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering 🧑🔬 from the University of Lleida, Spain 🇪🇸, where he also earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees. His academic journey has been deeply rooted in applying mathematical and decision-analytic tools 📐 to complex agricultural systems 🌾. With a strong foundation in statistics, optimization, and operations research, he further enriched his expertise through postdoctoral training and international research exchanges across Europe 🌍. His educational background blends technical rigor with practical insight, laying the groundwork for his interdisciplinary research. His early academic excellence and commitment to innovation have made him a respected scholar in quantitative decision-making 🧠, particularly within the agricultural and environmental sectors. 📊 His educational path has continuously evolved toward bridging scientific research and real-world problem solving. 🧑🏫
💼 Professional Experience
Dr. Plà-Aragonès serves as a Professor of Operations Research and Decision Analysis at the University of Lleida 🏛️, with more than two decades of academic experience 👨🏫. He has held leadership roles in multiple international research networks, including coordinating the EURO Working Group on Operational Research in Agriculture and Forest Management 🌳. His career spans collaborative projects with both academic and industry stakeholders, particularly in the pig and dairy farming sectors 🐖🐄. As a principal investigator, he has led EU and Latin American research consortia in modeling and AI-driven agricultural innovation 🤖. He also mentors Ph.D. students and has developed decision-support systems used in real-world agribusiness. His dynamic professional profile showcases a balance of teaching, research, consultancy, and technological transfer across interdisciplinary domains. 🌍
🔬 Research Interests
Dr. Plà-Aragonès’s research revolves around mathematical modeling, multi-criteria decision-making, and operations research applied to agriculture, healthcare, and resource management 🌾🏥📊. He is especially known for his work in livestock logistics, sow replacement optimization, and agri-food supply chain modeling using Markov Decision Processes, stochastic optimization, and AI-enhanced systems 🤖. His interests also extend to cost-effectiveness analysis in healthcare, bridging economic modeling with decision science 💊. He is a key advocate for integrating AI, cloud computing ☁️, and IoT into agricultural modeling, ensuring smarter and more sustainable farm management. Through international collaborations 🌍 and cross-sector applications, his research continually addresses real-world challenges in food systems, environmental sustainability ♻️, and public health policy using rigorous quantitative methods. 📈
🏅 Awards and Honors
Dr. Luis Miguel Plà-Aragonès has been honored for his outstanding contributions to operations research and agricultural modeling 🌍. He is a recipient of various research leadership recognitions, including the prestigious coordination role in the CYTED BigDSSAgro Network and awards from international agricultural and engineering bodies 🧪. His work has earned accolades for bridging research and practice in farming systems, and he has been frequently invited as a keynote speaker 🎤 at global conferences in AI for agriculture and decision support systems. Under his leadership, several European Union and international collaborative projects have won funding and academic praise 💼💡. His active role in mentoring, publishing, and innovating across disciplines has made him a respected and decorated figure in decision science and sustainable development. 🥇
🧰 Research Skills
Dr. Plà-Aragonès possesses advanced skills in mathematical modeling, optimization, stochastic processes, and simulation modeling 🔢. He is adept in applying Markov Decision Processes, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), and AI algorithms to develop decision-support tools for agriculture and health sectors 🌱🏥. His programming capabilities span R, Python, and MATLAB, while his modeling expertise extends to GAMS, LINGO, and AnyLogic 💻. He’s proficient in integrating data analytics, machine learning, and cloud-based architectures for developing scalable, digital decision systems ☁️🤖. Dr. Plà’s multidisciplinary skills allow him to lead cross-border research, publish in top-tier journals 📚, and translate theory into practical tools for industry. His ability to synthesize quantitative methods into actionable solutions defines his technical excellence. ⚙️
Publications Top Note 📝
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Title: Operational research models applied to the fresh fruit supply chain
Authors: WE Soto-Silva, E Nadal-Roig, MC González-Araya, LM Plà-Aragonès
Year: 2016
Citations: 337
Source: European Journal of Operational Research, 251(2), 345-355
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Title: Sugar cane transportation in Cuba, a case study
Authors: EL Milan, SM Fernandez, LMP Aragones
Year: 2006
Citations: 132
Source: European Journal of Operational Research, 174(1), 374-386
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Title: Optimizing fresh food logistics for processing: Application for a large Chilean apple supply chain
Authors: WE Soto-Silva, MC González-Araya, MA Oliva-Fernández, et al.
Year: 2017
Citations: 123
Source: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 136, 42-57
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Title: A perspective on operational research prospects for agriculture
Authors: LM Plà, DL Sandars, AJ Higgins
Year: 2014
Citations: 101
Source: Journal of the Operational Research Society, 65(7), 1078–1089
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Title: Review of mathematical models for sow herd management
Authors: LM Plà
Year: 2007
Citations: 66
Source: Livestock Science, 106(2–3), 107–119
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Title: New opportunities in operations research to improve pork supply chain efficiency
Authors: SV Rodríguez, LM Plà, J Faulin
Year: 2014
Citations: 63
Source: Annals of Operations Research, 219, 5–23
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Title: A Markov decision sow model representing the productive lifespan of herd sows
Authors: LM Plà, C Pomar, J Pomar
Year: 2003
Citations: 53
Source: Agricultural Systems, 76(1), 253–272
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Title: Environmental assessment of a pork-production system in North-East of Spain focusing on life-cycle swine nutrition
Authors: C Lamnatou, X Ezcurra-Ciaurriz, D Chemisana, LM Plà-Aragonès
Year: 2016
Citations: 52
Source: Journal of Cleaner Production, 137, 105–115
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Title: Optimal transport planning for the supply to a fruit logistic centre
Authors: E Nadal-Roig, LM Plà-Aragonès
Year: 2015
Citations: 51
Source: Handbook of Operations Research in Agriculture and the Agri-Food Industry
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Title: Modeling tactical planning decisions through a linear optimization model in sow farms
Authors: SV Rodríguez-Sánchez, LM Plà-Aragonès, VM Albornoz
Year: 2012
Citations: 50
Source: Livestock Science, 143(2–3), 162–171
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Title: Production planning of supply chains in the pig industry
Authors: E Nadal-Roig, LM Plà-Aragonès, A Alonso-Ayuso
Year: 2019
Citations: 42
Source: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 161, 72–78
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Title: A two-stage stochastic programming model for scheduling replacements in sow farms
Authors: SV Rodríguez, VM Albornoz, LM Plà
Year: 2009
Citations: 42
Source: TOP, 17, 171–189
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Title: Handbook of operations research in agriculture and the agri-food industry
Author: LM Plà-Aragonès
Year: 2015
Citations: 41
Source: Springer New York
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Title: Selection of slaughterhouse to deliver fattened pigs depending on growth curves
Authors: Y Bao, P Llagostera, D Babot, LM Plà-Aragonès
Year: 2025
Source: Agricultural Systems, 229, 104406
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Title: Mathematical methods applied to the problem of dairy cow replacements: a scoping review
Authors: O Palma, LM Plà-Aragonès, A Mac Cawley, VM Albornoz
Year: 2025
Source: Animals, 15(7), 970
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Title: A genetic algorithm for site-specific management zone delineation
Authors: F Huguet, LM Plà-Aragonès, VM Albornoz, M Pohl
Year: 2025
Source: Mathematics, 13(7), 1064
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Title: A deep learning approach for image analysis and reading body weight from digital scales in pigs farms
Authors: NA Reyes-Reyes, MC Doja, P Llagostera-Blasco, LM Plà-Aragonès, et al.
Year: 2025
Source: IEEE Access
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Title: Mathematical Methods Applied to the Problem of Dairy Cow Replacements: A Scoping Review
Authors: O Palma, LM Plà-Aragonès, A Mac Cawley, VM Albornoz
Year: 2025
Source: System, 26, 11
🧭 Conclusion
Dr. Luis Miguel Plà-Aragonès exemplifies the fusion of theoretical innovation and practical impact in mathematical modeling 🌍. With a foundation built on rigorous education 🎓 and two decades of professional excellence 💼, he has become a global leader in using operations research to solve real-world problems in agriculture, environment, and health 🌾💊♻️. His interdisciplinary collaborations, influential publications, and award-winning leadership reflect a visionary commitment to data-driven decision-making 📈. By integrating AI, cloud systems, and analytics into sustainable frameworks, Dr. Plà is shaping the future of intelligent agriculture and policy modeling 🤖. His dedication to mentorship, international outreach, and technological innovation makes him not only a researcher of high distinction but also a catalyst for global scientific progress. 🏆