As the world continues to search for ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, businesses across the spectrum are adopting new protocols to ensure the uninterrupted movement of fundamental products domestically and around the world. Commercial grain companies in the United States are no different, and many of the key soybean providers have ramped up their efforts to ensure safe, reliable movement of soybeans to end users around the world.
A list of key workers that could be used to help guide local government identify vital services was developed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security. This guideline is meant to help identify those commercial sectors that should continue normal operations throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Within the list were the food and agriculture sector along with the transportation and logistics industries that are critical to ensuring the movement of U.S. agricultural goods including soybeans and soybean byproducts such as meal and oil.
From the private sector, new procedures issued by U.S. commercial grain companies have been outlined and published on websites. In addition to developing enhanced procedures in order to ensure sanitary environments at their facilities, many of these companies are also taking measures to ensure that plants are adequately staffed to meet increased demand during these uncertain times. Facilities have also taken measures to limit the potential spread of the virus by preventing non-essential visitors from entering production facilities.
These examples are only a few examples of the steps that are being taken throughout the supply chain to ensure the continuing movement of safe, reliable U.S. soybean supplies to customers within the U.S. and around the world.
