SII, The Standards Institution of Israel, and AGREXCO INTSA Project: Information Network for the Traceability of Safe Agriculture The Need Consumer surveys of the past years indicate that the consumers' primary health concerns are the ones associated with the consumption of agricultural produce containing pesticide residues. With the magnitude of global ecological degradation and public demand for increased food safety involving minimal impact on the environment, there is an ever-growing need for effective tracking processes, from the source materials to the farm gate. This must include the traceability of any products failing to comply with the established requirements, to impose greater pressures for nature exploitation As an answer to the rise in pressure to disclose any information concerning environmental hazards posed by agricultural activities, the SII and Agrexco wish to develop a system which all interested parties will be able to exchange information concerning all risk-related issues involved throughout the entire production process. This will take the form of a framework for organizing and managing of data, in a rational and consistent way, supported by a scheme of rules and agreements for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), to promote a globalization of standards and the production of safer products in the European agricultural trade. The Method The public's increasing pressure on the producers and retailers for the right to responsive consumer information imposes a need for a greater visibility of the production procedures to the end customer. Thus, any relevant data and information will become available to all interested parties and participants in the food chain. Growers and organizations participating in the production chain will transmit their input to a Global Megadata Base using Internet throughout all stages of the agricultural cycle. A web-based application will enable the participants to access partner-defined information collections using identification parameters and user codes. They will have access to a large list of commodities, and be able to assess any given product's compatibility data to direct their choice according to the local market needs. The retailer will have the possibility to choose a producer, and situate the selected commodity within a digital geographic map to examine the surrounding environment and neighbouring hazards of the crop. The selected producer will be prompted to submit any requested information on the crop, including any quality certification documents issued by the accredited bodies. The Advantages This system intends to provide advantages to all levels of the production chain, and develop state-of-the-art science-based quality assurance programs for growers, producers, transporters, and retailers, regulators and all persons involved in the food chain. All participants will be provided with rapid access to information covering all issues of the production chain. The major incentive for joining such a project shall be today's constantly rising market prices for the different quality levels. The accumulation of information and data will ensure a constant enhancement of Good Agricultural Practices, and will provide all participants an efficient management tool. Farmers and producers will constantly improve the quality of their produce to appropriately achieve the level of food safety specified by today's standards. The system will assist farmers and producers through an effective, open, transparent, and timely information exchange regarding good agricultural practices, up-to-date prevention strategies and decision making. Growers, while forced to concentrate on important issues such as safety and environmental issues. The costs of logistics, paperwork burden and segregation costs involved in compliance will considerably reduce farm price > Full Story

SII - The Standards Institution of Israel Quality & Certification Division Mr. Ehud Gitai 42 Chaim Levanon Str. IL-Tel Aviv 69977 Israel Tel: +972 3 6465 194 Fax: +972 3 6465 205 gitaie@sii.org.il www.sii.org.il