The globalization of supply chains, frequent foodborne disease outbreaks, and the emergence of informed consumers have placed food safety and traceability under a global spotlight, observe Vishal and Kalpana. 

CONTEXT

Imagine purchasing a mango from your local market or a bag of rice from the supermarket. Have you ever wondered about their origins? Were they grown ethically? Are they free of harmful pesticides? Traceability in the agri-food chain refers to the ability to track and trace any food product or component through all stages of production, processing, and distribution. Think of it as a comprehensive “birth certificate” and “travel journal” for food.

In simple terms, agricultural traceability is a system that records and monitors the journey of food products from the field to the consumer. It includes every step—from planting seeds and raising livestock to harvesting, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, and final sale. This system relies on data collection at each stage, creating a transparent and accountable chain.

However, agri-food supply chains are complex, involving numerous actors—from small-scale farmers to distributors, retailers, and consumers. This complexity poses significant challenges to achieving farm-to-table traceability.