Traceability Technologies: Crops

This solution was shared by PRE-LAUNCH RESEARCH TEAM , 14 May 2021

Print date: 04 December 2024 16:49

Description of the innovative solution

Collaboration Urban farming Traceability Food safety Monitoring/Surveillance Supply-chain management Trade policy

Improved traceability technologies in the food system can help to ensure that the food is not spreading diseases and is of high quality. If a certain crop needs to be recalled, this technology can help to quickly identify the bunch of crops that need to be removed and prevent throwing out the high quality crops. A combination of tracking technologies and an easy-to-use online or mobile interface that can be used to trace product movement across the supply chain. These include latest technological advancements such as innovative implementations of Radio frequency identification (RFID) that can make to increase the sales of wheat flour, or allowing the consumer to know the full record of the IV range products through the smartphone; knowing the food authenticity with an isotope analysis or by analyzing the DNA sequences.

Primary users

Small & medium commercial farmers
Large & industrial farmers
Retailers
Distributors
Food safety & quality assurance agencies

Dietary impact

If the crops use traceability technologies, it is easy to know which crops came from the same harvest that need to be recalled. This can prevent people from getting sick from a bad bunch of crops. Traceability over time can also help improve yields. Traceability and an accurate farm record keeping system enables farmers to make data driven decisions and develop the best production practices.

Planetary impact

By being able to recall only a section of the harvest, you can keep people safe without getting rid of the entire batch of crops. So, the resources the farmers put into growing the crops will not be wasted if only a part of the harvest is thrown away.

Equity impact

The system of crop traceability can help to provide information about the quality of crops that people are eating so it can be ensured that all people are receiving quality, safe food. In addition, an improved traceability program can help increase profits by allowing for more accurate pay calculation including using piecerate pay methods. Piecerate calculations can save your farm money by improving productivity incentives.

Main concerns

The main challenge is that it presents an issue for farmers in their operational activity, as at times it requires a significant logistical problem and expense for them to meet the purchasers’ requirements in making sure the produce does not get contaminated and to log relevant data that is required by the consumer.

Supply chain segment

Handling, storage and transport/distribution

Maturity level

Mainstream

Criteria

Food quality Food safety Food availability

SDG target

SDG 2: Zero Hunger SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 15: Life on Land

Context

Urban Peri-urban Rural Marine/Coastal

Examples and additional resources

Real-world examples

See this solution in action in different contexts and settings around the world

Croptracker

Business information

Traceability technology to ensure food quality.

worldwide

croptracker.com/.../

Shared by PRE-LAUNCH RESEARCH TEAM

ATOD

Project information

ATOD is an Aflatoxin Databank supporting mycotoxin mitigation worldwide.

India Qatar Ethiopia Kenya South Sudan Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Uganda Tanzania, United Republic of Mauritania Mali Côte d'Ivoire Ghana Liberia Sierra Leone Guinea-Bissau Guinea

atod.app/map.php...hp

atod.app/stats.php.../stats.php

Shared by IFSS Portal Research Team

Additional resources

Learn more about this solution through studies, articles, business cases, and other information

Traceability Decision Tree

Other

Cornell University's National Good Agricultural Practices Program provides an overview of the need for traceability systems and approaches for implementation.

gaps.cornell.edu/educa...ility/