Plutarch (46 AD - 120 AD)
‘So very difficult a matter is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history’
Plutarch (46 AD - 120 AD)
‘When the candles are out all women are fair’
The ideal situation -
A fully transparent* food supply chain, from Farm to Fork, which can be easily and rapidly interrogated
* Transparent = what, how, how much/many, who, when where? Can answer all relevant questions.
Food Traceability is not difficult or complicated - but it is extensive and involves much data.
This data has to be easily, accurately and economically collected. Then it has to be rapidly and easily accessed and made use of.
‘Yet Another Potential Major Incident of Food Contamination’
......... the recalled pistachios represent a small fraction of the 60 million pounds that the Setton plant can produce each year. Setton shipped 2000 pound bags of these nuts to 36 wholesalers, and it could take weeks to figure out how much within these shipments could be impacted. “The firm is already turning around trucks in transit to bring those back to the facility,” stated an FDA official.
7 Dec 2008 ... The Irish government ordered the recall on Saturday [6 Dec
2008] of all pig meat products made in the Republic of Ireland after dioxinswere ...
‘Cadbury Removes Chocolates From Shelves Amid Fears Of Contamination’
Why is Traceability needed?• Food Safety• Food Quality• Rapid Recall if things do go wrong
(within/without your control)• Rapid Rebuttal – keep good product
on shelf if someone else gets it wrong• Reduced insurance• Ethics• Carbon Footprint• ...................? Product/process
development/streamlining?
Why is Traceability needed?• Food Safety (knowledge)• Food Quality (knowledge)• Rapid Recall if when things do go
wrong (within/without your control)• Rapid Rebuttal – keep good product
on shelf if when someone else gets it wrong
• Reduced insurance• Ethics (knowledge)• Carbon Footprint (knowledge)
NowPast Future
Ingredients/raw materials
Finished product
Hours/days/years
Global locations Global locations
Hours/days/years
Food Supply Chain
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
Possible elements in the chain Rearing/GrowingFeed/medicines/fertilisers/husbandryTransportBulking/subdivisionStorage/ageing/maturationProcessing (batch, continuous)DisassemblyAssemblyPackagingStandardsTraining
A traceability system has to be able to deal with all of these and more...
Concepts such as ‘dilution to extinction’ and ‘rework’......
Objectives of the TraceAssured System
Instant Provenance - Backward and Forward Traces – where (what) it has come from or where (what) it has it has gone to
Granularity (rifle shot not shotgun)Ease, speed and accuracy of useMass BalanceAdds real value to bottom line
How does it work?Based on ‘Materials’ held in ‘Containers’
Containers move from location to locationMaterials transfer from container to container‘Instances’
Movements and transfers are recorded (automatically/bar code/RFID/on computer screen,….)
Other data linked in context e.g. Quality data, machine parameters, environment temperatures, training, ....
How does it provide information?Graphically – click to drill down
Transfers and Movements displayed on factory floor planTracking between Factories displayed on maps
ReportsTabular
But you also get -Transparent production operations –yields/stocks/discipline/cultureSystem extendable up/down supply chainSystem co-exists with other systemsQuick implementation (weeks)Minimal impact on operationsSecureRemote access (Hosted and/or Local)
Steps which gave N Ireland an edge in the past
Animal tracking system – APHIS (“Animal & Public Health Information System”)
Quarantining of poultryOthers?
What will set us apart in the future?
We have a reputation of leadership in traceability (started by APHIS) and have local companies providing ‘best in class’ solutions for various aspects of ‘traceability’
TraceAssuredTracefirstKelsiusTraceability SystemsAgri-Rural PartnershipOthers?
Many more in ROI
Let’s make use of and build on what we’ve got...............
............and make NI the Global Leader in food safety, quality and traceability
...... Differentiation of our food products
...... Sales of traceability solutions and IP