V.ISC.2407 Global review of livestock traceability systems

Summary

This project was undertaken to conduct a comprehensive global review of livestock traceability systems and identify potential technology advancements to be considered in the development of Integrity Systems Company’s (ISC) next five year strategic plan. Key results include the identification of best-in-class traceability systems from countries such as Ireland, Japan, Uruguay, South Korea, and Zimbabwe, as well as innovative technologies like digital ID, and incorporating GPS/IoT. The research revealed that successful traceability systems often integrate multiple technologies, prioritise user-friendly interfaces, and provide benefits beyond basic traceability. The project's findings offer valuable insights for the Australian red meat industry, including potential technologies and approaches to enhance the NLIS, strategies to increase supply chain efficiency, and methods to improve market access through advanced traceability.

Objectives

The project aimed to:
- conduct a literature review of previous MLA research on traceability systems
- perform an extensive global investigation into traceability systems across various industries
- assess the technical capabilities and overall success of these systems
- identify systems and attributes applicable to enhancing Australian red meat livestock traceability.

Key findings

- Traceability systems in different countries are often designed with distinct primary purposes (e.g. product traceability, genetic evaluation).

- Advanced technologies like Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID, blockchain, and DNA testing are being increasingly adopted.

- Successful systems often integrate multiple technologies and prioritise user-friendly interfaces.

- Many systems provide benefits beyond traceability, such as improved breeding programs and supply chain efficiency.

Benefits to industry

The project's results will provide significant benefits to the Australian red meat industry by offering insights into best practices for enhancing traceability systems and identifying advancements in traceability technologies. Additionally, the findings will offer strategies to increase supply chain efficiency and market access through improved traceability methods.

MLA action

ISC is using the information provided by this report to inform the development of the next five year strategic plan.

Future research

Recommendations for future research and development include:
- Consider the combination of smart phone, GPS, UHF RFID and IoT technologies – working in combination to enhance the user experience of the traceability system; create more real-time location and traceability data; and address gaps in traceability knowledge.

- Develop a comprehensive strategy to integrate valuable livestock data from third-party systems with the NLIS to enhance the overall traceability ecosystem beyond core NLIS functionality.

- Researching the potential of digital ID systems to streamline documentation processes in the supply chain and further contemplate how block chain is applicable to organising data and data access in the Australian system.

- Consider how an increasing use of tissue sampling and genomic testing in Australia could integrate with or be accessible to traceability systems.