Traceability Program Research Articles

Seafood traceability program design: Examination of the United States' Seafood Import Monitoring Program.

The United States' current Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) and a potential extension are undergoing review, yet quantitative evaluation of the current program is lacking. The SIMP is a traceability program aimed at reducing imports of seafood products that are of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) origin or associated with seafood fraud. We conducted a quantitative examination of the SIMP's current scope and design by synthesizing publicly available trade data along with measures of IUU fishing and seafood mislabeling. We found prioritized shipments amounted to 33% of 2016 imported tonnage. The SIMP species groups had higher IUU scores and mislabeling rates relative to non-SIMP groups, but the difference was consistent with random prioritization suggesting potential benefits from program expansion. Furthermore, two-thirds of imported volume lacked a mislabeling rate and 5% lacked species information, underlining the urgent need for improved open-access data on globalized seafood supply chains.

Fishers' communication as a critical factor for tuna catches and potential benefits of traceability draws small-scale Fishers to program

Traceability is the ability to determine the path of a product from purchase to consumption to determine when and where it originated. This paper aimed to determine the factors influencing fish catch among small-scale fishers in Davao Gulf and fishers' decision-making to participate in a tuna traceability program. This study was conducted in seven selected coastal municipalities around the Davao Gulf (Governor Generoso, Lupon, Malita, Santa Maria, Samal, Sta Maria, including Mati City) using semi-structured questionnaires with a total of N = 264 respondents. Survey results showed that socioeconomic (household size, years in community and fish catch sold and communication of fishers) and fisheries factors (number of fishing trips) influenced fishers' daily catch (P ≤ 0.05). While perceived benefits [β = 1.217 (S.E. = 0.572), X2 = 4.17 df = 1, P = 0.041] of tuna traceability to small-scale fishers could also influence the decision of fishers to participate in the implementation of a tuna traceability program. This study showed that the fishers were willing to be part of a traceability program that can sustain and increase the value of their fish catch (94% agreed) and help them export to premium markets. An important lesson from this study is that fishers’ communication may increase catch success which can then be documented under a traceability program. While perceived benefits of traceability can incentivize fishers to join such programs by having livelihood assistance (e.g. farm implements, fishing gear replacements, cash for work). This program has the potential to contribute to ongoing efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and improve fisheries management.

Building a Teleost Fish Traceability Program Based on Genetic Data from Pacific Panama Fish Markets.

Fish tissue samples from 203 adult individuals were collected in the main ports and markets of the Pacific coast of Panama. Molecular identification based on a cytochrome oxidase I gene segment of all species was verified by GENBANK reference sequences. A total of 34 species from 14 families (Ariidae, Caranjidae, Centropomidae, Gerreidae, Haemulidae, Lobotidae, Lutjanidae, Malacanthidae, Mugilidae, Scianidae, Scombridae, Serranidae, Sphyraenidae, Stromateidae) were identified at the species level from 164 sequences. Additionally, three Caribbean species were molecularly identified among the analyzed samples (Mycteroperca xenarcha, Paralonchurus brasilensis and Lobotes surinamensis). Species diversity was slightly higher in the Gulf of Panama than in the Gulf of Chiriquí. For species with five or more individual sequences, genetic diversity and genetic connectivity parameters such as total number of haplotypes (H), haplotype diversity (Hd), and nucleotide diversity (π) were calculated. Overall, pelagic-migratory species showed higher values of genetic diversity than coastal and estuarine species with some exceptions. Connectivity between Gulf areas was compared using values of genetic distances and genetic differentiation (Fst). The high level of connectivity observed between the Gulf of Chiriqui and the Gulf of Montijo indicates the existence of a single stock in that area for the following species: Scomberomorus sierra, Caranx caninus and Lutjanus guttatus. The demographic history of the most common species was examined using Tajima's D values, suggesting population expansion for two snapper species, L. peru and L. argentiventris, having significant and higher values. Another important contribution from this research was the production of primers and dual-labeled probes for environmental DNA detection using qPCR for the five most abundant species (spotted rose snapper, yellow snapper, green jack, Pacific crevalle jack and the Pacific sierra fish). These markers represent a new set of tools for environmental DNA (eDNA) detection and molecular traceability of three commercially important fish species along the supply chain including landing sites and markets of the main fishery areas.

Restaurateurs’ context, decisions, and views on supporting sustainable seafood: Insights from Chile

While restauranteurs are important actors in seafood systems, information on their decisions and views on sustainability is lacking. Using mixed methods, we explored Chilean restauranters’ contexts, decisions, and views on seafood sustainability. Menus in Chile are diverse and dominated by domestic and wild-caught sources. Restauranters are willing to participate in traceability programs, especially when it is for both sustainability and health safety reasons. Restauranters believe that seafood is an elite resource and high prices are inhibiting access. They also believe patrons care little about seafood sustainability yet are willing to pay a premium for it. This contradiction suggests a mechanism for activating values via situational factors. While demand and benefits for seafood traceability programs appear present, challenges threaten successful implementation. Complex socio-economic factors, such as affordability, elitism, and inequity, need to be integrated into traceability program design to contribute to the necessary transformation of seafood systems.

113 Genetics Industry Infrastructure: How Are Artificial Insemination Organizations Adapting to Changes in the Beef Industry?

Abstract Cattle artificial insemination (AI) organizations are adapting quickly to changes within the beef industry domestically and abroad. Specifically, the increasing utilization of beef bulls, predominately Angus, in dairy herds to create terminal crossbred calves for beef underlies the majority of the changes and challenges. The procurement, management, and collection of beef sires on a commercial scale has become commonplace for AI organizations, and the subsequent optimization of beef sire housing, nutritional requirements, behavior surrounding semen collection, semen production ability, semen quality, and fertility is being examined. At one large AI organization, Angus sires are proving capable of producing as much semen as their dairy counterparts while being collected year-round to meet market demand. However, the percentage of collections that qualify for sale is ≤80% in beef bulls compared to >90% in Holstein bulls based on acceptable semen quality as determined by post-thaw computer-assisted motility analyses, flow cytometric viability assays, and visual sperm morphological assessment (Select Sires, Inc., unpublished). Large numbers of inseminations using beef sires, combined with reliable data recording on dairies, is allowing for precision management tools and sire fertility estimates to be generated. For example, the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB) recently applied the Sire Conception Rate (SCR) evaluation’s statistical model to Angus bulls used to inseminate Holstein cows and reported similar conception rates to Holstein sires used to inseminate Holstein cows (33.8% versus 34.3%, respectively). AI organizations have also begun to implement research, create products, and establish new supply chains to proactively account for dairy farms supplying crossbred or purebred (via embryo transfer) beef animals to calf ranches, feed yards, and packer networks. Examples include purebred commercial beef embryo sales, research on rearing crossbred beef calves, generating novel value-based (grid pricing) markets for crossbred calves, and facilitating traceability programs for packers.

Review of traceability system applications. Case study: the wiring harness industry

The purpose of this research is to develop a methodology for improving a wiring harness production process that allows for tracing the products that are processed in a specific area - in this case in a foam injection operation - by implementing a bar-coded electronic monitoring system. The steps involved in this methodology are as follows: a prior analysis of the area; development of a traceability program; implementation of the system and, finally, evaluation of the results. Thanks to the information obtained through the new traceability system, the main defects in the area were identified and specific actions were taken to minimize their recurrence, achieving a 23% reduction of defects after one month of trials.

Economic Cost of Traceability in U.S. Beef Production

Livestock traceability has increasingly become a focus for the USDA, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, high-volume beef-exporting states, and other beef industry stakeholders. The focus on traceability within the United States (U.S.) began after several international animal disease outbreaks and continues to be of importance with highly infectious diseases spreading across the globe. Mitigating adverse future disease outbreaks and food safety events, as well as maintaining export markets through a positive international perception of U.S. beef has become a top priority. Implementing a national animal identification (ID) and traceability program would enable the industry to track and reduce the potential losses due to an outbreak or event. However, such a system comes at a cost, mainly to cow-calf producers. This study utilizes a partial equilibrium model to determine the impacts of a beef cattle animal ID and traceability system in the United States. Utilizing an economic model allows us to provide a comparison of how the various beef sectors would need to respond to offset the costs of a national animal ID and traceability program. Assuming no changes in domestic and international demand for U.S. beef, producers at the wholesale, slaughter, and feeder levels lose $475 million, $1,143 million, and $1,291 million, respectively, in a 10-year discounted cumulative producer surplus. A 17.7 and 1.9% increase in international and domestic beef demand would be required to completely offset the producer costs of CattleTrace, respectively.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice on livestock traceability among cattle farmers and cattle traders in peninsular Malaysia and its impact on disease control.

The ability to trace the movement of animals and their related products is key to success in animal disease control. To ensure that a traceability system is optimized, livestock farmers and traders must have good appreciation and understanding about animal tracing. The present study examined the traceability of cattle in Malaysia vis-à-vis the domains of knowledge, attitude, and practice among cattle farmers and traders. A total of 543 farmers and traders in Peninsular Malaysia were interviewed. The results revealed that over 60% of the respondents had satisfactory knowledge and attitude about cattle movement and traceability. A lower proportion of the respondents (49%) were involved in appropriate practice that facilitated traceability of cattle. We found that the type of husbandry system and stakeholders' participation in livestock management-specific short courses were positively associated with satisfactory knowledge, attitude, and practice. A structured education and training program should be formulated to improve these domains so that the benefit of traceability becomes clear, paving the way to a successful traceability program.

The market for traceability with applications to U.S. feeder cattle

Abstract For voluntary traceability programs, a key interest for program designers and policymakers is how to encourage participation. We contend that participating in voluntary traceability can be viewed as a product characteristic, and thus serves as a source of product differentiation. We study the implicit market for traceability systems for the first known time. In our empirical example, we use stated choice experiments to link feeder cattle sellers and buyers through premiums and discounts for cattle traceability systems. Using results from discrete choice models, we simulate changes in traceability supply and demand in response to prices and policies. We find that cost-share policies might be an effective way of encouraging participation for feeder cattle sellers and could serve as an alternative to mandating traceability.

Impact of truck contamination and information sharing on foot-and-mouth disease spreading in beef cattle production systems.

As cattle movement data in the United States are scarce due to the absence of mandatory traceability programs, previous epidemic models for U.S. cattle production systems heavily rely on contact rates estimated based on expert opinions and survey data. These models are often based on static networks and ignore the sequence of movement, possibly overestimating the epidemic sizes. In this research, we adapt and employ an agent-based model that simulates beef cattle production and transportation in southwest Kansas to analyze the between-premises transmission of a highly contagious disease, foot-and-mouth disease. First, we assess the impact of truck contamination on the disease transmission with the truck agent following an independent clean-infected-clean cycle. Second, we add an information-sharing functionality such that producers/packers can trace back and forward their trade records to inform their trade partners during outbreaks. Scenario analysis results show that including indirect contact routes between premises via truck movements can significantly increase the amplitude of disease spread, compared with equivalent scenarios that only consider animal movement. Mitigation strategies informed by information sharing can effectively mitigate epidemics, highlighting the benefit of promoting information sharing in the cattle industry. In addition, we identify salient characteristics that must be considered when designing an information-sharing strategy, including the number of days to trace back and forward in the trade records and the role of different cattle supply chain stakeholders. Sensitivity analysis results show that epidemic sizes are sensitive to variations in parameters of the contamination period for a truck or a loading/unloading area of premises, and indirect contact transmission probability and future studies can focus on a more accurate estimation of these parameters.

Fishery Improvement Projects as a governance tool for fisheries sustainability: A global comparative analysis.

Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) are a form of private governance using seafood supply chains to reduce environmental impacts of fishing in some of the most challenged fisheries. Some FIPs are industry-led, others are championed by NGOs. They range across many different fishery types, in both high- and low-income settings. Their diversity is notable, and their proliferation remarkable. This rapid growth suggests FIPs are becoming a key feature of the fisheries governance landscape globally. Based on a global sample of 107 FIPs, we systematically examined their reported actions, the actors involved, and their achievements in terms of policy and practice outputs. The most common actions were dialogues with policy stakeholders, data collection, and educational efforts directed at fishers. Common policy outputs included development of management plans and/or a management body, and rules for limiting entry and increasing compliance. Practice related outputs were dominated by gear changes, and observer and traceability programs. Only crab and lobster FIPs engaged in sustained policy conversations as one of the most common actions. Shrimp and tuna fisheries report more engagement in testing and implementing changes to fishery practices. While supply chain actors are involved in all FIPs, retailers and 1st tier suppliers are relatively absent from FIP activities, and are primarily involved in rallying financial support or some policy engagement. Based on our analysis we discuss the opportunities and challenges FIPs will likely need to engage with to contribute to a global transition to more socially and environmentally sustainable fisheries. We outline key areas where further work is needed to understand how FIPs can improve their contribution to global fisheries governance in the future.

Consumer Preferences for Country‐of‐Origin Labeling in Protected Markets: Evidence from the Canadian Dairy Market

AbstractRecent trade agreements will expand Canada's market access commitments for dairy products. We explore whether Canadian consumers will respond to the increased presence of imported dairy products using a discrete choice experiment that accounts for price, country‐of‐origin (COO), production method, brand, and traceability. We use four processed dairy products to illustrate potential trade‐offs: Gouda and cheddar cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. There are statistically significant discounts associated with COO effects. These discounts vary with the dairy product and are large compared to consumer valuation of other included attributes. We find large premiums for traceability programs, suggesting that the absence of assurances related to traceability may mute actual market penetration arising from increased access to the Canadian dairy market.

Precision Livestock Farming in Swine Welfare: A Review for Swine Practitioners.

Simple SummaryThe increasing implementation of technological advances originally developed for video gaming (PlayStation, Xbox) is helping to progress livestock production so that it is both more efficient and more focused on the welfare of the animals. Such advances are necessary to ensure that innovations can emerge from applications using cameras, microphones and sensors to enhance the farmers’ eyes, ears and nose in everyday farming. This technology for remote monitoring of livestock, termed precision livestock farming, is the ability to automatically track individual livestock in real time. The goal of this review is to apprise swine veterinarians and their clientele on precision livestock farming with a general introduction to the technology available, a review of research and commercially available technology and the implications and opportunities for swine practitioners and farmers. Drawing from pig welfare criteria in the Common Swine Industry Audit, this review explains how these applications can be used to improve swine welfare within current pork production stakeholder expectations. Swine veterinarians and specialists, by virtue of their animal advocacy role, interpretation of benchmarking data, and stewardship in regulatory and commodity programs, can play a broader role in facilitating the transfer of precision livestock farming and technology to their clients.The burgeoning research and applications of technological advances are launching the development of precision livestock farming. Through sensors (cameras, microphones and accelerometers), images, sounds and movements are combined with algorithms to non-invasively monitor animals to detect their welfare and predict productivity. In turn, this remote monitoring of livestock can provide quantitative and early alerts to situations of poor welfare requiring the stockperson’s attention. While swine practitioners’ skills include translation of pig data entry into pig health and well-being indices, many do not yet have enough familiarity to advise their clients on the adoption of precision livestock farming practices. This review, intended for swine veterinarians and specialists, (1) includes an introduction to algorithms and machine learning, (2) summarizes current literature on relevant sensors and sensor network systems, and drawing from industry pig welfare audit criteria, (3) explains how these applications can be used to improve swine welfare and meet current pork production stakeholder expectations. Swine practitioners, by virtue of their animal and client advocacy roles, interpretation of benchmarking data, and stewardship in regulatory and traceability programs, can play a broader role as advisors in the transfer of precision livestock farming technology, and its implications to their clients.

Determination of ractopamine residue in tissues and urine from pig fed meat and bone meal

ABSTRACTIn many countries, ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) is allowed to be used in animal production as a β-agonist, which is an energy repartitioning agent able to offer economic benefits such as increased muscle and decreased fat deposition, feed conversion improvement and an increase in average daily weight gain. However, some countries have banned its use and established strict traceability programmes because of pharmacological implications of β-agonist residues in meat products. In Brazil, commercial RAC is controlled (5–20 mg kg−1) and only added to pig diet during the last 28 days before slaughter. However, the control is more difficult when co-products, like meat and bone meal (MBM), which can be produced from RAC treated animals, are part of the feed composition. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate the presence of RAC residue concentrations in urine and tissues of gilts (n = 40) in four dietary groups: 0%, 7%, 14% and 21% (w/w) of MBM-containing RAC (53.5 µg kg−1). The concentration of RAC residues in MBM, pig tissues and urine was determined by LC–MS. Low RAC concentrations were detected in muscle, kidney, liver and lungs (limit of detection = 0.15, 0.5, 0.5 and 1.0 µg kg−1, respectively); however, no RAC residues were quantified above the limit of quantification (0.5, 2.5, 2.5 and 2.5 µg kg−1, respectively). In urine, the RAC concentration remained below 1.35 µg L−1. These data suggest that MBM (containing 53.5 µg kg−1 RAC) added to diet up to 21% (w/w) could hamper the trade where RAC is restricted or has zero-tolerance policy.

Aplicación móvil de gestión empresarial para fincas ganaderas, articulado con el programa de trazabilidad bovina

Introducción: el artículo es producto de la investigación “Desarrollo e implementación de un software para la gestión y control de las fincas pecuarias, articulado con el programa de trazabilidad bovina”, financiado por SENACYT, realizado durante 2017-2018, en la Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, sede Azuero, con colaboración de la Consultora Luiyiana Pérez.
 Problema: este proyecto surge de la ausencia directa de los productores en el registro de la información de campo, y en el programa de trazabilidad bovina.
 Objetivo: desarrollar una aplicación móvil que permita administrar la gestión de las fincas ganaderas, con integración al sistema de gestión pecuario (SIGEPE) desde las agencias del Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario.
 Metodología: se realizó un estudio del nivel del índice de la brecha digital (IBD) en el sector, se utilizó un muestreo estratificado proporcional para la selección de los productores y se utilizó el modelo vista-controlador para el desarrollo de la aplicación móvil.
 Resultado: se levantó una base de datos con información de nutrición, programa sanitario, productos veterinarios entre otros, se tiene la aplicación desarrollada con sus respectivos módulos, se tiene un plan de capacitación para la implementación de la aplicación móvil.
 Conclusión: la competitividad empresarial pecuaria vs la regulación de la trazabilidad bovina demanda el registro oportuno de la información de campo en todos los puntos de producción animal.
 Originalidad: la incorporación del control pecuaria por parte de las distintas agencias y su articulación con la trazabilidad bovina.
 Limitaciones: las habilidades tecnológicas deficiente de los usuarios en el manejo y usos de las TIC.

Framework para la Implementación de un Proyecto de la Arquitectura de Aplicación del Modelo Arquitectura Empresarial para la Gestión de la Trazabilidad Pecuaria

This article aims to use the framework Laravel for the development of a technology platform that allows implements one of the identified project in application architecture developed in the work of research called "Development of a model of enterprise architecture to manage the traceability of cattle livestock SMEs in Los Santos province, Panama” the project has the title: Development and implementation of a software for the management and control of the livestock farms, articulated with the bovine traceability program. We have defined the data structure that is the model the different user views and controllers that allows communication between the layers of the model. All business will be sustainable and competitive if it is able to manage your information. It is why among its benefits the project aims to achieve a competitive and sustainable sector with the use of ICT, and inform the program of group traceability and traceability of the processes currently running the Ministry of agricultural development (MIDA). Articulate all the institutions that belong to the agricultural and livestock sector in the country.Keywords: Framework, model view controller, business architecture, traceability.

Development of an Ideotype-Based Selection Tool for Native Tropical Tree Breeding by Smallholder Planters in Mexico’s Maya Forest

Tree planters of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico are mostly first-generation small-scale forest owners. As a consequence of the lack of a management plan, trees employed for plantations are currently produced without any traceability or genetic improvement protocol, resulting in the reduced quality and heterogeneity of established materials. Recently, the Mexican government published a law to force planters to reverse this situation through the initiation and operation of germplasm management and traceability programs within each physiographic sub-province. Thus, planters located in the “Campeche Karts sub-provenance” now need to select superior trees for plant production, provenance assays, and orchard establishment. As a reference for the improvement goals in this work, we developed a model ideotype tree and qualification tool based on a weight-free selection index to compare trees in established plantations to enable the effective selection of superior trees to be used as seed sources and as a starting population for genetic improvement programs. The tool presented here is easy to use by planters, requiring a very basic computer or smartphone to run a spreadsheet where simple morphometric evaluation are captured, trees are qualified in comparison to the ideotypic values of each parameter with the aid of common field equipment. When this tool was applied to individuals from two different plantations, the qualification methodology ranked the individuals, allowing for the selection of superior trees in a more robust way, in contrast to the use of parameters mostly based on price and driven by wood volume.

The Global Combat Against IUU Fishing: The United States Proposes a New Seafood Traceability Program

On 5 February 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (hereinafter, NOAA),within the United States (hereinafter, US) Department of Commerce, published a Proposed Rule to create a seafood traceability programme. The programme intends to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (hereinafter, IUU) fishing, prevent fraudulent trade and to serve as the contribution of the US to the global action to combat IUU fishing, along the lines of other similar regulatory frameworks, such as the EU's extensive regulationon IUU fishing. However, despite the legitimate objectives of the measure, it is imperative that regulators take into account the potential consequences for international trade when designing such programmes.

Liberalization and tariff dismantling

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact that the free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Chile and its resulting dismantling of tariffs has had on the mussel cultivation industry, particularly in Galicia. Specifically, the authors examine how trade liberalisation has affected the mussel farming industry. Design/methodology/approach – The authors aim to observe the general panorama of both the evolution of production, distinguishing between fresh and industrial usage, and the evolution of prices at source depending on destination (fresh or industrial in the period 2003-2012). In order to analyse the relationships between different agents of the value chain, Porter’s model has been used as a reference. Findings – There is a loss of competitiveness in the mussel farming-production sector following the liberalisation agreement of 2006 and huge bargaining power of the processing sector vs the production sector. Practical implications – There is an opportunity to implement traceability programmes and develop a more differentiated product. In addition, it is profitable to promote Galician mussels through generic advertising and promoting exports. Originality/value – There is a lack of empirical studies about the impact that the new free trade agreement between the EU and Chile has had on the Spanish mussel industry. Particularly, the study analyses economic repercussions, managerial implications and new challenges stemming from the new context of trade liberalisation.

Tracking Liability – Traceability and the Farmer

Many farmers are reluctant to enter into traceability programs, which would create a record of the source and movement of raw farm products. Farmers are concerned that these programs could make them more vulnerable to regulatory offence prosecution and negligence lawsuits, as lite protection vulnerable afforded by anonymity is lost. However, participating in a traceability program may assist a farmer in protection establishing due diligence and reasonable care. Canadian jurisprudence also suggests that it will likely be difficult to overcome the causation stage of a negligence claim and ultimately prove a farmer's liability. Moreover, farmers will also benefit from the restrictive treatment of pure economic loss claims Canadian courts. Traceability programs would therefore prove to be more positive than negative for Canadian farmers.