Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has partnered with Intertek Food Services to open a new Global Food Traceability Center.
Based out of the US, the center comprises members from across the world and it will provide knowledgeable and scientific-based advice to the food industry, insight and understanding into food traceability.
The IFT will play a central role where industry, academic, and government experts can work together with consumer groups to perform research, discuss challenges, adopt best practices and implement practical traceability solutions.
The center has already commenced work on key projects, which encompass research, protocols and standards, education and training, and technology transfer.
IFT vice president William Fisher said: "We recognised that currently, there is no single entity anywhere in the world providing a global resource or an authoritative voice on food traceability."
Intertek Food Services senior vice-president Chetan Parmar said that food traceability is a worldwide challenge; it not only covers the provenance of food, but it also needs to ensure the safety and quality of it right along the supply chain from field to fork.
"As a founding partner of the new center we hope to share our experiences and knowledge to implement improvements that will ultimately increase the transparency of the supply chain whilst improving the overall safety of food products to consumers around the world," Parmar added.