Enhanced food safety and information sharing were the focus of a successful pilot project in Iceland where TraceTracker took a key role. The pilot, which took place between August and October this year, used the EPCIS data sharing standard for seafood traceability as part of an international project called eTrace. The main conclusions will be presented at scientific conferences on both sides of the Atlantic.

Aiming high
“Although traceability is a requirement in modern food processing, it is often poorly implemented,” explained Øystein Gran Larsen, Senior Traceability Advisor from TraceTracker. “Paper-based record keeping and incompatible IT-systems impede the ability to track down information about specific fish and where it came from. Without effective standards, data is lost at every step of the value chain.”

The eTrace project in Icleland tried something new, testing a standard from EPCglobal.
The aim of the project is to identify, develop and implement traceability systems based on the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) standard which originates from EPCGlobal (www.epcglobalinc.org). The EPCIS standard enables information sharing of EPC-tagged products, within and between enterprises.

For the Iceland pilot TraceTracker worked with other project partners such as Matís, HRAFN and Roi4u, as well the project owners, SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture. Project funding was provided by an EU Project, the SafeFoodEra program, which also sponsored another successful pilot project in Sweden last spring and an ongoing pilot in Norway.


Project in action
The pilot project in Iceland was carried out in Reykjavík with close cooperation from HB Grandi, a fish processor. Redfish were traced from fishing vessels, through storage, sorting, filleting and packing. Tubs and pallets of fish from the processor were marked with electronic identification (RFID). Each tag consists of a circuit that stores ID information and an antenna to send and receive information. RFID tags were chosen with adhesive backings so they could stick firmly to the containers.

Then, handheld RFID readers were used to read the tagged tubs and pallets and gather the data at various stages of production. From the readers, the data was uploaded wirelessly with a Wi-Fi connection to an EPCIS repository provided by TraceTracker.

TraceTracker’s EPCIS repository, known as TIX, enables diverse organizations to share information about EPC-tagged products. The TIX stores and manages standardized “event” data related to individual items- the “what, why, when and where” of that item. For example, when a tub of fish is scanned and information is uploaded from the RFID reader, the TIX records the unique identification of the tub, its location and then other relevant information such as the processing step, the time and temperature. When the same tub is scanned multiple times at different steps, that information is also stored, creating a history of the fish. In addition, other information and documentation can be linked to tubs or pallets of fish from certification bodies, regulators and internal IT systems. The information is also kept safe along the way. Each supply chain player controls how much and what type of data is shared with others. The final result of the pilot was that incoming tubs of redfish were successfully traced through multiple steps to outgoing boxes. 

New possibilities
The pilot project took place within HB Grandi, but could easily extend all the way to the consumer. With the regular reading and data uploading from the fishing and processing to the final product, EPCIS repositories enable improvements in communication between parties within the value chain. With efficient traceability in place, vital information such as measurement results for undesirable substances, temperature fluctuations and certification information can be monitored.

Tracing of fish is just the beginning. EPCIS-based traceability systems open up new possibilities for internal and supply chain optimization. Today, most of the tubs used by Icelandic fishing companies are rented and the owners are looking for a solution regarding RFID inclusion, in order to enhance traceability of tubs. Subsequent developments will be installation of automatic reading stations in processing plants instead of hand scanners like the ones used in this pilot.

Down to the consumer
A good traceability system also provides opportunities to educate consumers about a product, demonstrating its carbon footprint, food miles, as well as such factors about how the product was made or that it was caught from sustainable fish stock. By being able to answer these questions, brand owners can improve consumer confidence.

More information
EPC Global
EPCIS standard
eTrace project
Sintef Fisheries and aquaculture
   

TraceTracker AS is a leading provider of product traceability and asset tracking solutions, delivered through a standardized platform, innovation software applications, and professional services.  

Contact information
Trace Tracker AS
Address: Øvre Slottsgate 4, 0157 Oslo, Norway
Tel: +47 47 70 44 00
Geir Myrold, Head of Nordic Region - Geirm@tracetracker.com / Mobile +47 90 15 44 70
Laura Gray, Marketing Manager - laura@tracetracker.com / Mobile +47 90 36 64 48