A phased approach to livestock traceability in South Africa

The South African red meat industry has long recognised the critical importance of a livestock traceability system that would not only address challenges like disease outbreaks, but also unlock significant economic benefits.

The Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) is well-positioned to lead the analysis, development and management of this system, given its comprehensive value chain approach and industry mandate.

For the development and implementation of a comprehensive and trusted livestock traceability system, it must be inclusive of all role-players within the already well-functioning value chain, while also aligning with industry, government, and international requirements. To ensure this, the RMIS has implemented a strategic phased approach in developing the traceability system.

The strategic phased approach adopted by the RMIS offers several advantages:

• Efficiency: By breaking down the implementation process into manageable phases, RMIS can focus on delivering key components while ensuring that the overall system is built on a solid foundation.
• Risk mitigation: A phased approach allows for the identification and mitigation of potential challenges at each stage, reducing the risk of project failure.
• Adaptability: As the industry evolves and new technologies emerge, a phased approach enables RMIS to adapt and incorporate necessary changes.

Phase 1: Identifying key locations

The project commenced with the implementation of Global Location Numbers (GLNs) to uniquely identify and map key locations within the supply chain. This includes farms, auction houses, feedlots, and abattoirs. The RMIS has engaged a systems development company with 26 years of expertise and 80 developers to create a dedicated application for issuing and managing GLNs in collaboration with GS1. The application will facilitate accurate location identification, verification, and visualisation on a national map. This effort ensures each site is geo-fenced, enhancing the efficiency of livestock tracking and management.

Read more about the collaboration with GS1 here: https://rmis.co.za/news/a-step-towards-livestock-traceability-rmis-collaborates-with-gs1/

Development phases

The development of the GLN application phases:

• Analysis: Completed 5 July 2024.
• Design: Finalised 22 July 2024.
• Development: Scheduled from mid to late October 2024.
• Commercialisation: Set for 1 November 2024.

Phase 2: Capturing and sharing animal data

Following the successful identification of locations, Phase 2 focuses on capturing and sharing essential animal data through various recordkeeping systems. The minimum traceability data, known as GGID, includes GLN, GPS coordinates, ID numbers, and date/time stamps. The approach emphasises decentralised data management while ensuring standardised sharing to maintain data integrity and support traceability from production to end-consumer.

Phase 3: Standardising data sharing

Currently, RMIS is in the analysis phase of developing a platform to facilitate the standardised sharing of traceability data. This platform will integrate data from various recordkeeping systems to provide a clear, unified view of livestock movement throughout the supply chain. The collaboration with GS1 and Gendac ensures that the platform meets international standards and effectively supports the industry’s traceability needs.

Conclusion

The success of this initiative hinges on collaboration among all industry stakeholders, including small-scale and commercial farmers, auction houses, feedlots, abattoirs, service providers, and government bodies. Over the past six months, the RMIS has worked closely with these groups, and the optimism surrounding the project reflects a shared commitment to building a sustainable and efficient red meat value chain.

Through a strategic phased approach, the RMIS is working to ensure that this system is both effective and sustainable. By addressing key challenges and unlocking economic opportunities, traceability will play a vital role in enhancing the reputation and competitiveness of South African red meat products on the global market.

This article appears on the RMIS website. To read the original article, click here.

Relevant Agribook pages include “Food safety and traceability” , “Beef cattle farming” and “Precision livestock farming“.

Photo by Lukas: www.pexels.com/photo/flat-lay-photography-of-slice-of-meat-on-top-of-chopping-board-sprinkled-with-ground-peppercorns-618775/