
On December 19, 2024, The White House National Economic Council and National Security Council have released their first-ever Quadrennial Supply Chain Review, offering a comprehensive assessment of critical supply chains, including those in agriculture and transportation. The report, building on a 2021 executive order, concludes that while supply chains have strengthened since 2021-22, significant vulnerabilities persist, particularly in real-time visibility across supply networks.
Key findings and recommendations from the review include:
Infrastructure Investments:
- The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated substantial resources to address critical needs in ports, rail, highways, and intermodal operations.
- Notable projects benefiting grain transportation include:
- $73 million upgrade to the Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad in Washington
- $26.3 million efficiency improvement at the Port of Kalama, the nation's second-largest bulk grain export facility
- $39 million for a new loading dock at the Marquis Industrial Complex in Illinois, supporting a future soybean crush plant
Data Availability and Transparency:
- USDA's Agricultural Transportation Open Data Platform (AgTransport) provides crucial datasets on agricultural product movement across various transportation modes.
- The Department of Transportation's Freight Logistics and Optimization (FLOW) program aims to create an integrated view of U.S. supply chain conditions, covering 75% of U.S. container imports and 80% of container terminal capacity.
- Challenges remain in data fragmentation, quality inconsistencies, and privacy concerns.
Ongoing Challenges and Future Goals:
- The need for deeper visibility into cross-border supply chains with Canada and Mexico
- DOT's aim to triple industry participation in voluntary data sharing by 2028
- Development of predictive analytics and early warning systems for potential disruptions
The review emphasizes that while progress has been made in addressing transportation bottlenecks and improving efficiency, ongoing shifts in market dynamics and technology will require continued coordination between public and private sectors. For the grain handling and processing industry, these findings underscore the importance of staying engaged with infrastructure developments and data-sharing initiatives to enhance supply chain resilience and competitiveness in global markets.