Fonterra is on track to become the first global dairy processor to have farm-to-fork electronic traceability.
By 2020 the co-op’s 11,000 supplier farms around the world would be part of the system; any product concerns will be traced anywhere on the supply chain within three hours.
The world-class traceability standards will extend to Fonterra’s 140 plants at 50 sites in nine countries, in seven languages and involving 2000 unique food items.
Already, all New Zealand and Australian-sourced products, representing 74% of total global production, can be electronically traced through the supply chain from manufacturing sites to customers.
While the co-op is not divulging how much the traceability system will cost, Fonterra’s general manager trust in source, Tim Kirk, says the cost pales in comparison to “what we will deliver”.
“It’s a substantial investment by Fonterra,” Kirk told Rural News.
“What we are aiming for now is world-class electronic product traceability, so if we have any concerns about any product we can electronically trace it anywhere in our supply chain within three hours,” says Kirk.
