IRVINE, CA - Western Growers (WG) has introduced a different and extensive program with a goal to reduce the number of food contamination outbreaks, substantially improve food safety, and to ensure consumers stay protected. WG announced its new Supply Chain Risk Management Solution during a Forbes AgTech Summit, which was moderated by Frank Yiannas, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response.

“This industry-driven solution is a momentous step in taking control of supply chain food safety and traceability issues as identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,” said Tom Nassif, President and CEO of Western Growers. “We have faced several high-profile food contamination events within the past few years, and this program will allow us to go beyond the traditional paper-based food tracking system and improve industry information while addressing concerns identified by public health authorities and consumers.”

According to a press release, in order to process in real time and provide actionable information on needed improvements, WG has partnered with iFoodDecisionSciences to deliver the software system, which allows companies the ability to assess and track all food safety systems.

Further, Trimble HarvestMark’s blockchain enabled technology provides a readily available traceback and trace forward capability that can quickly narrow and identify the specific products that are and are not involved in a food safety event. WG Insurance Services offers access to critical management guidance, legal counsel, and claim adjudication as part of the insurance sector of the Supply Chain Risk Management Solution.

To move forward with food safety procedures, the Supply Chain Risk Management Solution will take advantage of new technology in:

• Daily Assessment: The program’s special software system allows companies daily and continuous input on their food safety performance.
• Tracking Trends: In order to identify trends that facilitate ongoing improvements in food safety practices throughout the supply chain, the system allows companies to easily review and track food safety data.
• Traceability: Across the entire supply chain using cloud and blockchain enabled technology, the program provides instantaneous case and item level traceability.
• Financial Protection: To supply chain participants in the case of a contamination event, the solution offers indemnification.

Currently testing this software are WG member companies that grow, ship, and process leafy greens. The solution will be available when these pilot projects are complete. The Supply Chain Risk Management Solution is designed to be open source and to work with other existing systems already in place. WG will apply anonymized data from the program to advance supply chain reliability as well as improve, inform, and protect the entire industry.

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Western Growers