by Lowell Randel / SVP, government and legal affairs for Global Cold Chain Alliance
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of supply chains to a strong economy where consumers have reliable access to food and essential goods.
While the food supply chain has shown resiliency and strength, disruptions have highlighted some challenges. As a result, policy makers are paying closer attention to those issues.
The recently passed American Rescue Plan includes $4 billion for to the U.S. Department of Agriculture support food supply chain and agriculture pandemic response.
In addition, the COVID Stimulus Package, part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed in December 2020, authorized no less than $1.5 billion for grants to small or mid-sized food processors or distributors to respond to coronavirus.
This also included seafood processing facilities and vessels, farmers markets, producers or other organizations.
GCCA has met with officials at the White House and leaders at USDA to highlight the impacts to the cold chain industry and how our members have stepped up during the pandemic to maintain supply chain integrity while ensuring food safety and quality.
Access to grants under the Stimulus Package and the American Rescue Plan would provide much needed relief to help the industry through this difficult time.
GCCA has requested they be made available to food logistics companies to help offset COVID-19 related expenses in the following areas:
PPE, cleaning, worker protection
Worker safety remains a top priority for GCCA and its members. Throughout the pandemic, our members have made significant investments in personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitation products and services and new technologies including air filtration and electrostatic cleaning.
Detention, demurrage and related expenses
Supply chain disruptions caused challenges to the efficient flow of import and export containers. This disruption has caused many of our members to face significant per diem, detention and demurrage charges outside of their control.
The disruption in flow of containers also led to added fuel and energy costs to keep refrigerated containers at the proper temperature to preserve food safety and quality while our members waited for the supply chain to move. Supply chain disruptions also have caused increased costs related to critical materials and inputs and led to much longer lead times in procurement.
Labor costs
The pandemic has placed strains on the labor market, causing major costs to our members.
Whether it is a lack of childcare or concerns with using mass transit, our members have faced a labor shortage during this pandemic.
To stay operational, companies have been paying overtime and premium pay rates to those who are healthy and willing to work. In addition, many have hired outside labor, which often comes with a hefty price tag.
In addition to administering COVID-19 relief programs, USDA also is conducting a review of the food supply chain.
The review is a department-wide effort to improve and reimagine the supply chains for the production, processing and distribution of agricultural commodities and food products.
USDA is seeking comments to help assess the factors, risks and strategies needed to support resilient, diverse and secure supply chains and ensure U.S. economic prosperity, as well as national and nutrition security.
Such supply chains are needed to address conditions that can reduce critical processing and infrastructure capacity and the availability and integrity of critical goods, products and services.
The increased focus on supply chain issues represents an opportunity for the cold chain industry. GCCA is preparing comments on key issues impacting the food supply chain and will continue to work closely with the White House and USDA on pandemic relief programs.
