To Coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Foot and Mouth Crisis on 19 February Devised by Gloucestershire farmers with widespread support from across the food industry, Happerley Passports empowers farmers to control provenance at the point of production and consumers to instantly unlock the whole provenance story of their food with one unique traceability code.
When www.happerley.co.uk goes live on 19 February (the 15 year anniversary of the Foot and Mouth Crisis) every UK primary food producer will be invited to create a free Producer Passport and profile and invite all intermediaries and retailers whom they trade with into a visible supply chain to create one network.
Producers are then able to generate a unique traceability code online for every food batch leaving their holding. The codes are validated through the food chain by participating intermediaries and retailers.
By validating the produce at every link in the food chain into one code accessed online or by QR scan at the point of sale, it will reduce food fraud, reconnect consumers with farmers and validate local and production claims and premiums.
Those supporting the scheme believe it is vital to maintaining a sustainable and transparent UK farming industry, independent of retail and processor pressure.
Happerley co-founders, farmers Matthew Rymer and Clifford Freeman, conceived the concept to provide the full story of the provenance behind each cut of Pedigree Gloucester Beef they sold. After a piece on BBC Countryfile, they attracted support from fellow farmers, local butchers and consumers and were encouraged to broaden the scheme. Two years later, following a significant investment in software and a collaboration agreement with The University of Aberdeen, they and many others believe they are on course to transform trust and honesty in the food industry for the benefit of all.
