Food safety, efficiency in the value chain to avoid waste and the demand for quality in international markets have always been key points in the agri-food industry. To offer added value, in compliance with the high standards mentioned, Traceability has been evolving alongside agricultural technology, to offer robustness to the entire chain.
He bar-code He was the precursor of traceability, in Argentina and in the world. This identification system made it possible to differentiate the lots, their origin by producer, company and country, in the markets. For the first time, the value chains of the meat, dairy and agriculture They had a individualized product trackingwhich was impossible to do manually with the necessary volume.
From the 80s to the 2000s, traceability was more oriented towards guaranteeing quality standards in the productive sectors, differentiating production in international markets. This, in turn, transformed the demand of the industry and food processing companies that became more selective when acquiring raw materials, in the face of demanding markets, both for specialties and for basic commodity attributes.
Traceability, since then, It is a tool to scale food quality. This was enhanced with the creation of the SENASA (National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service), in 1996, to respond to the need to improve export standards within a framework of increased international regulations.
The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) was another of the developments that, starting in 2010, streamlined and modernized the ability to offer information on each package, with the application of electronic labels. Likewise, it consolidated the development of a centralized database for real-time monitoring of the supply chain. It was the first step towards digitization in traceability technology that, a few years later, would evolve with the implementation of Blockchain for the registration of environmental indicators linked to each batch, and their access through QR codes directly from the package.
“Today, more and more local producers apply traceability technology with Blockchain in their agricultural production, positioning themselves in a privileged and positive way in the most demanding markets,” he indicated. Matías O’Keefe, Co-Founder & CTO of ucrop.it, Argentine traceability platform, leader in LATAM.
Like the first traceability solutions, it once again changes the rules of the game in marketing, putting the end consumer in a privileged place by offering accurate and verifiable information from the field to the table. “Traceability with Blockchain increases transparency and trust in our raw materials in the world, promoting a robust and beneficial agri-food value chain for all actors in the industry, including the end consumer as an essential part of this transformation towards verified sustainable agriculture. at a scale that truly promotes positive change in the environment and the health of species, us included. Because there is no planet B,” O’Keefe added.
Until now, traceability technologies focused on physical attributes of products, on things that were seen, felt, were tangible and inherent to the physical for the most part. Quality, volumes, compounds, temperatures, humidity, protein levels, among other known conditions.
“What happens when the added value begins to be the form, origins or management of production?, which have impact results invisible to the human eye, but very real in the consequences of the environment”reflected the cofFounder of ucrop.it.
What can change with food verification with QR and Blockchain
Due to its status as an agro-exporter, Argentina has always been a pioneer country in adapting to international traceability requirements throughout history. Today, more and more local producers apply Blockchain traceability technology in their agricultural production, positioning themselves in a privileged and positive way in the most demanding markets.
The great leap of current traceability technology is to transport added value in the certainty of positive, verified environmental impact of agricultural products on a global scale, in line with a consumer who seeks sustainable and environmentally friendly products. According to theroundup.org, think tank of awareness and responsible consumption, A sustainable labeled product rotates 3 times faster than a conventional one; 55% of consumers will be willing to pay more for verified sustainable products and 86% will avoid rewarding their purchase of products from companies that do not have a sustainable commitment behind them.
The consumer is changing and, just as he demands quality, price, and performance, he is beginning to demand sustainability as an attribute of products. The QR innovation Replacing barcodes, it now allows everyone who has a phone to enter into a virtual experience as an educated consumer.with interactive experiences that barcodes never made possible.
In a context in which regulations are more sophisticated in pursuit of a sustainable agricultural production on a global scaletraceability promotes good agricultural practices and transforms them into added value and profitability for the producer. It is a chain in which all industry players win and it is a paradigm shift that is modifying the agri-food, forestry and biofuels industry on a planetary level with no turning back.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
