The Rise of Food Traceability: What It Means For Consumers, Farmers and the Safety of Our Food

The rise of food traceability is a response to consumers’ growing desire for more information about where their food comes from. A new article in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry explores the various benefits of implementing a food traceability system that supports farmer-to-consumer traceability. We will explore these benefits, including: Improved consumer trust; Increased producer involvement; Reduced fraud, waste and loss through improved inventory control and reduced pilferage; Reduced risk of spoilage through improved product visibility and identification of suppliers; Increased efficiency in production as a result of better forecasting, scheduling, tracking and inventory management; Increased transparency with end-to-end visibility throughout the supply chain; And increased public trust in our supply chains if they know exactly where their food is coming from.

Improved consumer trust

Some traces allow retailers or consumers to track the provenance of their food from field to fork, so they can see exactly where it comes from. This can be particularly helpful for traceability systems designed for food safety and traceability, such as HACCP plans or recalls. In a food traceability system, retailers can trace specific products back to their suppliers, so they can quickly identify which foods on their shelves were likely sourced from that supplier. This is useful for retailers with high quality standards, who may wish to identify suppliers with which they have had issues in the past. This is particularly useful if the problem relates to contamination with harmful pathogens, such as E. coli or Salmonella. Traceability information can also help to improve consumer trust and confidence in the food supply chain. Consumers want to know where their food has come from, to understand exactly what has gone into making it. A traceability solution can allow retailers to provide this information to their customers.

Increased producer involvement

Traceability systems can give suppliers visibility into the inventory and sourcing of their customers, which can result in increased transparency between retailers and suppliers. Large retailers in particular have become increasingly interested in traceability systems, looking for a way to gain visibility into their food sources and reduce the risk of food fraud. They also have a greater need for traceability as consumers are looking for traceability information for health or sustainability reasons. Traceability systems can also help to increase the involvement of the entire supply chain, including producers. The increased visibility and transparency that traceability systems can provide can help to facilitate better collaboration. This can be particularly beneficial in developing countries, where the entire value chain is more likely to be concentrated in a few locations.

Reduced fraud, waste and loss through improved inventory control and reduced pilferage

Traceability systems can also help to reduce the risk of pilferage by providing better visibility and control of inventory. Inventory control through the use of RFID tags and sensors can show exactly where items are located, helping to prevent pilferage. This can reduce losses due to missing or broken tags, and help to improve service levels for retailers. By providing real-time visibility into the inventory of the retailer, traceability can help to prevent over or under-ordering, which can also help to reduce waste. This can be particularly important in the grocery industry, where items may only last a few days before they are discarded.

Reduced risk of spoilage through improved product visibility and identification of suppliers

Traceability can inform suppliers of their customers’ requirements and help to reduce the risk of spoilage. If a retailer has a particular food safety requirement, such as specific Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) requirements for their suppliers, this can help to ensure that the retailer’s needs are being met. This can help to reduce the risk of food spoilage, either because the supplier has committed to meeting the requirements, or because the level of spoilage is low enough that it does not pose a threat to the product’s safety.

Increased efficiency in production as a result of better forecasting, scheduling, tracking and inventory management

Traceability can also help to increase efficiency in production by giving producers and retailers better visibility into the needs of their customers. This can help to reduce wasted time, effort and resources by providing producers and retailers with visibility into each other’s schedules and forecasts. This can also help reduce inefficiencies in forecasting and scheduling, particularly in industries where the need to forecast regularly is required to manage peaks and troughs in demand. Traceability can also help to manage the supply chain more effectively through better tracking of products and inventory. This can help to reduce the risk of stock-outs and limit disruption to customers’ services, such as road closure or power outages.

Conclusion

Traceability systems can help to improve the reliability of our food supply chains and provide greater transparency in the distribution of food. The benefits of traceability can be seen in all areas of the food sector, from farmers to retailers, with substantial potential for both efficiency gains and increased public trust in the food supply chain. Read more Traceability systems can help to improve the reliability of our food supply chains and provide greater transparency in the distribution of food. The benefits of traceability can be seen in all areas of the food sector, from farmers to retailers, with substantial potential for both efficiency gains and increased public trust in the food supply chain. The Rise of Food Traceability: What It Means For Consumers, Farmers and the Safety of Our Food The rise of food traceability is a response to consumers’ growing desire for more information about where their food comes from. A new article in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry explores the various benefits of implementing a food traceability system that supports farmer-to-consumer traceability. We will explore these benefits, including: Improved consumer trust; Increased producer involvement; Reduced fraud, waste and loss through improved inventory control and reduced pilferage; Reduced risk of spoilage through improved product visibility and identification of suppliers; Increased efficiency in production as a result of better forecasting, scheduling, tracking and inventory management; Increased transparency with end-to-end visibility throughout the supply chain; And increased public trust in our supply chains if they know exactly where their food is coming from.