The Informa Economics, Inc. (Informa Economics) has organized a multi-disciplinary team to study,
evaluate and prognosticate about the role of food traceability for global
agriculture and food. Joining the group with Informa Economics are Perficient, a
leading eBusiness solutions provider, and Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld,
L.L.P. (Akin Gump), one of the nation’s leading law firms.
INTRODUCTION
Heightened awareness of food-related safety issues among today’s food
consumers, coupled with a more educated public, is driving the demand for more
information about the vertical food supply chain and specifically, the origin
and handling of basic commodities and food products produced and consumed
throughout the developed world. Recent animal health and food-borne illness
scares in all parts of the globe are creating a demand for source
verification, food safety and supply chain identification of food products.
During the last couple of years, great concerns with regards to E.coli,
lysteriosis, BSE (mad cow), foot and mouth, and the like have driven many
processors to change their handling practices and have altered many consumer
eating habits. While most governments have established processes and systems
to ensure food quality and safety (e.g., HACCP) it has been human error, in
part, that has created the spread of many of these diseases and illnesses, and
perhaps has created the need for an established product traceability standard
for the food industry.
The current demands of the consumer and those serving
the consumers, coupled with the many demands of international agricultural
authorities, provide the impetus for this study.
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Is traceability feasible? What technologies are
being considered? How effective will they be? How costly?
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Can the industry provide a guaranteed safe
product?
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Can industry fully implement country of origin
labeling (COOL) on meats, vegetables, etc.?
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Is it possible to implement? What will the value
be?
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Who will pay for it – the consumer? the
processor? or all food chain participants?
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What will the impacts of this additional cost
be? Who will be the gainers and the losers?
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How much detail? What technology? Transitions?
