Food safety and traceability in the agricultural supply chain: using the Internet to deliver traceability

Abstract

This paper describes a possible mechanism for the design and development of a software system that will become the de facto industry standard for the collation, location and dissemination of traceability data. Such a system must be capable of transcending national and regional boundaries. It must operate on a global scale and be available 24 hours a day seven days a week. It must be relevant to, and usable by, each member of the food supply chain whilst not generating any commercial objection on grounds of security, competitiveness or cost. The system proposed makes use of the continuing growth of personal computer usage, the declining cost of electronic communication, and the global nature of the Internet.