Industry bodies, businesses and academia joined to launch The Australian Guide to Implementing Food Traceability (AGIFT) in an online event, aimed at boosting confidence across the entire food supply chain.
AGIFT was developed by Deakin University’s Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics (CSCL) in partnership with GS1, Woolworths Group, Meat & Livestock Australia’s Integrity Systems Company
The guide covers 11 learning modules, such as Manufacturing, Distribution and Exporting, with an aim to build national consistency and integrity into Australia’s food traceability systems, as discussed in the online webinar launch hosted on Thursday (29 April).
Chair of Deakin University’s Food Traceability Laboratory and former CEO South Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding Tony Boll said the guide was created to be technologically agnostic, affordable and scalable.
“For the first time, the industry will have an easily accessible methodology that can be used by everyone along the length of the supply chain, enabling information to flow freely regardless of software or technology,” said Boll.
“You can start at any module. The guide is there to help businesses get across traceability capabilities across the entire food supply chain.”
“And with Australia’s recent announcement that it aims to boost its food export target to $100 billion by 2030, the timing has never been better.”
Head of business solutions at Woolworths Group Ram Akella said the guide will help retailers, brands and producers deliver on increasing customer expectations.
“This guide provides the means to many ends – food waste, authenticity and provenance, biosecurity. Traceability provides this opportunity as to how we can achieve these goals through a shared language, supported by the guide,” said Akella.
“There’s value from everyone, no matter where in the supply chain you are. It brings transparency to life and shares with the customer how the product makes its journey through the supply chain.”
The Australian Guide to Implementing Food Traceability (AGIFT) is available for purchase through the Deakin University Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics. For information about the guide, click here.
