Transparency in food supply systems is becoming increasingly important as consumers demand to know more about where their food comes from and how it is produced. This increased transparency is driven by a combination of regulations and consumer demand, and it is changing the way that food is produced, processed, labeled, and sold.
In the farming industry, regulations such as the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and the National Organic Program (NOP) in the USA have been implemented to ensure that food is safe, of high quality, and produced in a sustainable way. Additionally, food traceability systems, such as the Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) and GLOBAL.G.A.P, have been implemented to ensure that food can be traced back to its origin in the case of food safety incidents, such as outbreaks of food-borne illness. These regulations require farms to have specific records, protocols, and certifications to prove compliance with these regulations and to be transparent about food safety, food quality, and sustainability.
Consumer demand is also driving increased transparency in food supply systems. Consumers are becoming more interested in knowing where their food comes from, how it is produced, and what is in it. For example, there is a growing demand for food products that are labeled as organic, pasture-raised, and free from antibiotics. This trend is reflected in the growing popularity of farmers' markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, where consumers can buy directly from local farmers and ask questions about how the food is produced. Furthermore, consumers want to know what effect the food they eat has on the environment.
Another aspect of food that is coming under increasing scrutiny is its carbon footprint. As we become better at tracking the emissions associated with producing specific foods, consumers are also choosing produce with smaller footprints. Governments and regulatory bodies are also imposing carbon taxes on produce with high associated emissions. Reducing the emissions originating from the production of food in South Africa should be a top priority for the agricultural industry, seeing that South Africa has the highest greenhouse gas emission levels for $1 million worth of agricultural exports of any country in the world. If this is not addressed, our exports of agricultural products may suffer due to carbon taxes and shifting consumer preferences.
This increased transparency in food supply systems is resulting in positive changes in the food industry. Increased transparency leads to better living conditions for animals, which also have other ecological benefits. Pasture-raised animals can be used to increase the health of fields and reduce carbon emissions. It is also driving more sustainable and responsible use of agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. It is not unlikely that residue testing will be expanded from sectors such as export fruits to encompass a much broader section of the agricultural industry, such as vegetables and even grains.
A recent study by Purdue University showed that most consumers do not trust information on how a product was produced (such as organic products) or the environmental impact of the product on the same level, such as ingredient lists and expiration dates (see graph below). This does not mean that such information is not important to consumers, but that there is little trust in the organizations and certifications that are currently in use. This can be attributed to the difficulties of verifying such information. Transparency and traceability in the food system will hopefully increase the confidence consumers have in the information relating to the origins of food presented to them.
Transparency and traceability in food systems have already seen great advances by using Internet of Things (IOT) devices. Such devices allow farmers to record in real-time what pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are applied to food crops. Since little human intervention is needed in these systems, little consideration has to be given to human error or skewing of the data. Other technologies, such as remote sensing, allows producers and retailers to better monitor the environmental effects of agricultural activities such as deforestation and water pollution.
In conclusion, transparency in food supply systems is becoming increasingly important as regulations and consumer demand drive increased focus on food safety, quality, and sustainability. This increased transparency is resulting in positive changes throughout the food industry, such as improved living conditions for animals, better quality food, and more sustainable food production. As consumers demand more information about the food they are buying, farmers are under more pressure to demonstrate compliance with regulations and to be transparent about their practices and products. This trend is expected to continue as more regulations and standards are implemented and more consumers become interested in knowing more about where their food comes from and how it is produced.