TITLE: Atlanta Chapter of INFORMS

SPEAKER: John Trestrail

ABSTRACT:

Each year the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Agency forInternational Development (USAID) spend approximately $2 billion on US agriculture products and ocean transportation to combat world hunger. The US Government-sponsored international food aid programs is a unique alignment between US Government agencies, NGO like CARE and Save the Children, the World Food Programme, US Agri-business, and the international shipping and supply chain business community.

Atlanta-based Next Wave Agency, LLC plays a small role in the process by working on the behalf of some of the ocean carriers that transport the bagged food from US ports to foreigncountries for distribution. Next Wave serves their client in the formal role of a ship broker with duties that include advising clients of the market conditions, explaining government regulations, and submitting freight offers in response to invitations to bid to the US government.

The US Department of Agriculture procures the food and transportation services under the mandate of minimizing the