The consumer’s focus on where food comes from and how it gets to their homes is greater than ever before in today’s globalized world. The food supply chain that covers the entire globe is extremely efficient, but it often lacks transparency, leading many to question whether their food is authentic or sustainable.

The recent horse meat scandal in Europe and persistent worries about fake agri-food products demonstrate the necessity of more transparency and traceability. People want to know where their food sources are, how it was produced, and if it lives up to their ethical and environmental standards.

These concerns are being addressed through the development of sustainability standards. These standards cover everything related to food production procedures and the supply chain to make sure the food items are of high sustainability.

This blog will look at the ways in which sustainability standards may aid in the improvement of transparency and traceability in agriculture and food supply chain. Lastly, we will elaborate how F2P plans promote traceability and transparency in MENA.

Transparency in Agrifood Supply Chains

Nowadays, two new buzzwords are in circulation: Transparency and traceability, however, what does this imply and how does it concern the agrifood sector in particular?

The food supply chain should be transparent, i.e. people should be able to see or know from where a food product travels. This includes farming methods, activities involved, materials used, and delivery procedures.

Traceability, in particular, refers to a food product or batch which can be tracked along the trail of custody. This helps businesses and regulators to identify the contaminated or adulterated products among those manufactured in compliance with the rules.

Benefits of Transparency and Traceability in Agriculture and Food Supply Chain

Transparency and traceability in agriculture and food supply chain offer a multitude of benefits for consumers, businesses, and regulators:

Stakeholder	Benefits of Transparency and Traceability
Consumers	Improved food safety: The provision of informed choices eliminates the possibility of subjecting consumers to untested and hazardous commodities.
	Enhanced trust in brands: Shows prudent procurement and high standards of workmanship.
	Empowerment for ethical choices: Sustainable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible practices.
	Increased awareness: This means that traceability gives information on food origins and the process of its production.
	Greater engagement: Promotes curiosity about diverse food cultures, local growers, and mindful eating.
Businesses	Improved brand reputation: It enhances customer’s trust and loyalty.
	Risk reduction: Quickly identifies problems and minimizes damage resulting from recalls, contamination, or fraud.
	Supply chain efficiency: Visibility of real-time data leads to lower costs and better supply chain management.
	Strengthened relationships: Increases cooperation, creates trust, and enhances productivity among both suppliers and partners.
	Market access advantage: Appealing to the expanding market trend of ethical sources.
Regulators	Effective monitoring: Allows monitoring of the supply chain to speed up risk detection.
	Enhanced enforcement: It also gives adequate details that are important during the regulatory process.
	Improved public health: Provides safe quality food, which can lead to good health.
	Informed policymaking: Data-driven regulations and sustainable practices are supported by traceability insights.
	International collaboration: Creates ease in collaboration helping set global food safety parameters.

Obstacles Towards Transparency And Traceability

Achieving transparency and traceability in agriculture and food supply chain is not without its challenges:

• Complexity of supply chains: There are many stakeholders in the global food supply channels which include different countries and regions, thus, it becomes hard to trace each stage.
• Data management challenges: It can be complicated and resource-intensive to gather, store, and analyze huge amounts of supply chain data.
• Cost considerations: However, traceability systems can be quite expensive for small businesses.
• Lack of standardization: A lack of standardized traceability protocols can also impede information sharing between different segments of the supply chain.

Nevertheless, technology breakthroughs such as blockchain and artificial intelligence provide opportunities to increase transparency and traceability in agriculture and food supply chain.  

Sustainability Standards and their Importance to Maintain Transparency in Food Supply Chain

Sustainability standards have become beasts of guidance in the search for traceable and accountable agrifood supply chain. These voluntary frameworks set detailed standards and requirements for farming, production, and supply chain procedures in which food products meet tough criteria for environmental, social, and economic responsibility.

Key Sustainability Standards:

• Fairtrade:
  • Global label for ethical sourcing.
  • Such reports would be very explicit on farming practices, labor conditions and community activities.
  • Allows consumers to demand fair pay, safe working environment, and accountable food production.
• Rainforest Alliance:
  • It also considers the sustainability dimension which is the environmental and social sustainability in the supply chain.
  • traceability standards for farm-to-fork products.
  • It guarantees full observance of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and responsible social practices’ standards.
• Organic:
  • Governed by stringent regulations.
  • Documentation and audit independence in production and management for the purpose of accuracy.
  • Make sure to use no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and have tougher organic standards for products.

Effectiveness of Sustainability Standards

Sustainability standards have proven effective in promoting transparency and traceability in agriculture and food supply chain:

• Enhanced consumer trust: Sustainability standards assist consumers to ascertain that food suppliers are able to offer authentic information concerning the sustainability of the products.
• Improved supply chain accountability: This makes supply chain actors to answer for their unethical sourcing, labor abuses and environmental degradation.
• Greater market access for sustainable products: The transparent and sustainable are market access and opportunity to premium pricing.
• Empowerment of small-scale producers: Some sustainability standards might have allowed small scale farmers to be given a small amount of technical assistance and into markets. This helps small scale farmers to compete in the global market with an ethical and sustainable approach.

Sustainability standards are also problematic. Nevertheless, such certifications could be expensive and may also be easily fraud. Although, the sum total effect of global traceability standards cannot be disputed.

Farm to Plate’s Initiatives: Towards Enhancing Transparency and Traceability on a Global Scale

The F2P is a flagship of the transparency and traceability in the global supply chain of agrifood. In 2022, the blockchain in the agriculture and food supply chain market size stood at US$ 285.34 million which is predicted to grow to US$ 7378.68 million by the year 2031, at a CAGR of 43.76 percent through 2031. 

F2P has remained true to its promise to customers that they ought to be provided with valid, authentic details about how their food was produced, handled, and transported, since its inception. Throughout its operations, F2P emphasizes transparency. This is shown in its relations with local farmers and manufacturers, as well as the use of innovative technologies such as AI and blockchain.

F2P Initiatives to Enhance Transparency and Traceability in MENA

Parameter	Value
GDP growth rate (MENA) – 2023	3.0%
GDP growth rate (MENA) – 2022	5.8%
Real GDP per capita growth rate – 2023	1.6%
Real GDP per capita growth rate – 2022	4.4%
Average year-on-year food inflation – 2022	29%
Average headline inflation – March-Dec 2022	19.4%
Average headline inflation – Oct 2021-Feb 2022	14.8%
Percentage of 2023 forecasted food insecurity	24% to 33% (across MENA subgroups)
Estimated people likely to be food insecure – 2023	Close to one out of five in developing countries in MENA
Estimated children under 5 hungry – 2023	Almost 8 million
Increase in risk of childhood stunting – 2022	17%-24%
Newborns at risk of stunting – 2022	200,000 to 285,000
Projected financing needs for food insecurity	Billions of dollars annually

F2P has implemented a range of initiatives to enhance transparency and traceability in agriculture and food supply chain:

• Blockchain Technology: F2P ensures that the product is immutably recorded through every step from farm to fork. This is a decentralized and transparent system that allows the consumers to access verified information about the origin, handling practices, and sustainability credentials of their food.
• AI Integration: The use of AI in gathering data from different stages of the supply chain. F2P utilizes this data-driven approach because it allows risk detection or inconsistencies as well as ensuring transparency and traceability.
• Partnerships with Local Farmers and Producers: F2P works closely with local farmers and producers, by offering training and equipping them with traceability systems. This commitment to empower the local stakeholders contributes to  transparency in the food supply chain.

The effect of F2P’s initiatives on the MENA food chain

The food chain of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa)  region has been affected by complex supply chains, less developed infrastructure, and absence in uniform practices. F2P’s initiatives have made significant contributions to addressing these challenges:

• Improved Food Safety: F2P traceability systems have facilitated authorities to trace and isolate contaminated products, thus reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses.
• Increased Consumer Confidence: Transparency in F2P’s operations is what has won consumer trust in MENA countries, pushing them towards making an informed decision on food products.

Conclusion

A secure, ethical, and environment friendly food chain is built on transparency, traceability, and stability. F2P is the pioneer of this movement, using technologies, partnerships and commitment for sustainability to change the concept, trace and consumption of nutrition from farm to plate.

We have observed an increased transparency and traceability which, in return, has created more food safety by increasing the trust that consumers have in this value chain. Get in touch with Farm to Plate! And let’s change this world for a better future.

FAQ’s

Why is transparency and traceability crucial in agrifood supply chains?

Transparency and traceability ensure consumers can confidently purchase safe foods, by providing clear origins and handling information.

How do sustainability standards guarantee transparency and traceability?

Sustainability standards outline the permissible agricultural practices, production processes, and supply chain operations. These standards  offer verifiable evidence of food products origins and handling systems

How does Farm to Plate promote traceability and transparency?

Farm to Plate employs technology, partnerships, and data-driven insights for their systems. We utilize blockchain tracking, farmer training, and collaborations to establish transparency and traceability.

What impact has Farm to Plate had on the MENA region’s food chain?

Farm to Plate’s initiatives have significantly enhanced MENA’s food chain. By ensuring transparency, reducing contamination risks, preventing food fraud, and instilling consumer confidence.

Why are sustainability standards crucial in the agriculture food chain?

Sustainability standards encourage eco-friendly practices, social responsibility, and economic sustainability. This helps safeguard resources, ecosystems, and communities for the long-term health of the agricultural food chain.

Tanya A Mishra, Technical Content Writer & Marketer at farmtoplate.io (specialising in MENA Tech Landscape). She has been working towards crafting insightful content on topics like Blockchain, Agritech, AI and many more.