In a dynamic shipping environment, the need to anticipate and reduce food safety risks across the supply chain requires innovation, strategic leadership, and strong partnerships between food and transportation companies. The sanitary transport of human and animal food rules by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),1 the safety and security guidelines for transportation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA's FSIS),2 and food defense guidance from both agencies3,4are only one part of ensuring that food and feed are transported safely throughout the supply chain, from farm to fork. Understanding the current trends and innovations that have advanced food safety systems as we know and rely on them today is critical to developing the next innovations and partnerships in transporting food safely.
Cargill has been the leader in several innovations related to making the transport of grains around the world more efficient and effective. A new barge and tugboat design in the 1930s used steel cables to connect vessels, allowing for more agility, speed, and cargo space while moving grain on rivers. The barge would be enlarged, measuring close to the width of the locks, and cast in a single-skin steel instead of wood. In 1966, Illinois Central Railroad sought a partner for an innovative idea, the "unit train." The idea entailed an entire unit train being rented by a single company. Cargill jumped at the opportunity.