Embracing digital food transparency with urgency
Incoming regulations and standards are making the case plain : food manufacturers need to prepare for a digital food supply chain . Why not start now ?
There are benefits to be had for all through a realisation of this transformation , yet right now most food manufacturers are hesitant . In their hearts , they know that a move from manual track and trace to digital is coming . In their heads is a growing realisation that it could be good for their business . In fact , with legislators and retailers starting to insist on digital transparency in the food supply chain , it is not an exaggeration to say it will be critical to the continued existence of every food manufacturer .
Many have nagging worries about cost and complexity , some are assessing the technological trends , biding their time for the right wave to surf on . In fact , there is no need to be either complex or expensive . The technology already exists .
The first step is data collection , then this data must be shared throughout the
16 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk supply chain , however the latter cannot happen if the data does not exist in an accessible form .
So , this is where they should start , data collection . Even the smallest farmer can participate , by accurately weighing each batch of potatoes on industrial scales before a lorry takes them away . Keeping that data ( the weight and logistics information ) in a database puts the farmer in a position to contribute to the digital transformation of the food supply chain . It potentially also allows the end customer to see the origin and , if the data is captured , the field from which they were harvested .
EARLY ADOPTERS
This concept of information sharing is critical to digital track and trace , enabling the identification of the whereabouts of specific batches of food at any given time in the past or present , in a matter of seconds . However , digital food chain transparency has already been shown by early adopters to benefit food manufacturers .
One such is the US company Golden State Foods ( GSF ), which has a manufacturing facility producing over 160 million pounds of beef products per year . The company has partnered with IBM to create a digital supply chain system based on blockchain technology , Radio Frequency Identification ( RFID ) and the Internet of Things ( IoT ).
The project is the subject of a YouTube video , during which Guilda Javaheri , GSF ’ s Chief Technology Officer , explains : “ It ’ s not just about digitising your supply chain ; it ’ s about reducing the hours of reconciliations that companies go through . It also optimises the inventory throughout the supply chain . You are going to be able ultimately to have the right product at the right time and the right place . Can you imagine how much wastage today can be prevented with that kind of information ? That ’ s what makes this pilot unique – because manufacturers , distributors and customers are really sharing the data , and that ’ s really the common goal that everyone is striving towards ”.