Developing guidance templates and terminology to support multiple traceability objectives in the grain supply chain

Abstract

AbstractBackground and objectivesGrain traceability is a multifaceted activity that aims to streamline supply chain operations, from farm to fork. Traceability involves several supply chain participants and takes into account the nature of their business(s). Implementing traceability in a supply chain system requires efforts from several parties in documenting the necessary data from supply chain processes or events. Food regulations and standards such as ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 220005:2007 provide an architecture for implementing traceability in food and feed establishments, but it fails to develop a concrete stepwise methodological traceability framework. The primary objective of this study was to create guidance documents for the application of traceability in the grain supply chain.FindingsThe minimum traceability requirement is to document the record of “one step up, one step down” but to effectively trace and track grain, more information is necessary. Therefore, this study developed a methodological guidance on what and how information needs to be captured to consider traceability for an entire grain supply chain system.ConclusionsIn practice, the approach of defining and documenting information as a measure to trace and track processes in a supply chain has proven to be successful in achieving various traceability objectives such as chain of custody, grain safety, quality, documentation, comply with regulations, and brand protection. This paper presents an information‐based traceability system as a collaborative effort of various supply chain participants which keeps a record of both material and information flow, across and within the supply chain system.Significance and noveltyManagement of grain traceability in a bulk commodity handling system is challenging because of comingling, which can easily compromise grain safety and quality. Several regulatory agencies in the United States and worldwide have set rules and guidelines to improve supply chain management operations. Grain traceability is one of the important components of the rulemaking involved in managing the grain supply chain.