Oct. 12, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by POET.

Over the past three decades, POET has built a global reputation as a trusted feed source with its Dakota Gold and NexPro brands.

Now, it has taken that reputation to the “Nex” level.

POET has made two big strides in the feed market. First, two of POET’s bioprocessing facilities have achieved the Global Food Safety Initiative Food Safety Management System Certification FSSC 22000.

The food safety certification, which was achieved at POET’s bioprocessing facilities in Shell Rock, Iowa, and Fairmont, Nebraska, gives customers in the pet food, aquaculture and other feed markets even more assurance that POET’s high-protein feed ingredients have been produced and handled according to the highest food safety standards.

“This is a terrific accomplishment and a very exciting opportunity for POET to enter new markets,” said Berit Foss, regulatory affairs and quality control director for POET Bioproducts. “We always strive for safety on the highest level, and this certification is proof of that commitment. We’re proud of our team members for remaining diligent in their efforts to fulfill and maintain GFSI compliance.”

The second big announcement from POET came as the acquisition of the rail-to-container transload facility Savannah Marine Terminal in Savannah, Georgia.

With direct access to CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads, the facility is able to simultaneously unload a huge number of rail cars each day. SMT also is located in the Port of Savannah, the single-largest and fastest-growing container terminal in the U.S.

Greg Breukelman, president of POET Bioproducts, said owning the facility will give POET more managerial control over all aspects of the shipping process, ensuring greater traceability and transparency for its customers. It also will seek to minimize the impact of those dreaded three words: supply chain issues.

Between a growing worldwide market for feed ingredients having huge upside potential and now owning a facility to expedite the shipping of those POET bioproducts, Breukelman sees this acquisition as a major step in a very positive direction.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to add this new piece to our part of the business,” he said. “It creates opportunities for our people and is a great fit for POET and what we’re trying to do for our customers worldwide.”

These strategic moves help POET move one step closer to achieving its sustainability goals, including the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal of “Zero Hunger,” by providing clean, safe and sustainable feed and food ingredients.

“Our team has worked very hard over the past 30-plus years to grow POET into a brand that is trusted all over the world for its suite of high-quality bioproducts,” Breukelman said. “We are committed to going above and beyond to serve our customers with consistency, safety and service they can count on, and we will continue to offer only the very best as we venture into new markets.”