Ports of Indiana, ISDA sign memorandum of understanding

INDIANAPOLIS — Ports of Indiana and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding to increase collaboration, expand agricultural trade and create new container shipping opportunities for the state.

The MOU will establish a framework for enhanced collaboration, with the aim of promoting increased agricultural trade and fostering economic development for Indiana.

Ports of Indiana handles more than 4 million tons of agriculture products at its three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, and those cargoes make up more than a third of the total shipments.

The organizations plan to partner in the following ways:

• Encourage and support the expansion of agricultural exports through the state’s port facilities.

• Investigate opportunities to develop new container shipping facilities that would serve critical needs in the agriculture and hardwood industries.

• Connect key agricultural stakeholders with Indiana’s ports to explore new shipping opportunities and convene critical stakeholder forums.

• Research container export opportunities related to ISDA’s key priorities.

“ISDA has helped position Indiana agriculture as a global leader in innovation and commercialization for food and fuel production, and our ports play a critical role in connecting our ag industry with world markets,” said Jody Peacock, CEO for the Ports of Indiana.

“Our organizations and our industries are inextricably linked, and we have several shared objectives and opportunities for collaboration that can create future growth for our state and our agricultural communities.”

Did You Know?

Indiana ranks 13th in the nation for waterborne shipping, generating $29.9 billion in annual economic impact.