Utilisable Findings

Within the project we expect different kinds of results, which are explained in the following:

Economic Benefit:
Results are utilisable in an economic sense, if they lead directly or indirectly to an economic benefit for the participating organisations or public bodies. One of the most important factors of success is to identify and convert the requirements of the food chain members into an IT-based solution. IT FoodTrace focuses on the analysis of data acquisition, data flows and data retrieval between selected process participants.
The ATSM platform can be used for different purposes. Within the project IT FoodTrace, we use this platform to qualitatively improve the advisory service of veterinarians for livestock farmers. Currently available data systems from the process participants (e.g. veterinarian, livestock farmer), which are often decentralized, deficient and redundant, will be consolidated into an integrated-animal-health system for cattle and pigs.

Scientific Benefit:
Scientific results of the interdisciplinary research project can help do broaden the scope of further research beyond meat and meat products. Based on the developed standards, the IT-system can be expanded to other food supply chains.
Furthermore, improvements in the field of quality assurance are expected. In all sub-projects the improvement of quality is a central task.
A uniform data management and data integration system help to reduce the workload required for documentation. This holds true not only for the supply chain of meat, but is also transferable to other food supply chains. Breaks in structure and media, which may support illegal ideas, can also be reduced.

Socio-political Benefit:
The interdisciplinary research project develops an effective traceability and quality assurance system for the supply chain of meat and meat products. It is essential to have a system for complete documentation throughout the value chain. The IT FoodTrace research project aims to develop the first sustainable, integrated IT-system without structural breaks and barriers. Furthermore, the integrated character of the project requires cross-sectional measurements (up to legal regulations) to bring together the different systems, technologies, general conditions and expectations of stakeholders.
Especially the Agro Technical Solution Model, but also the cost-benefit-analysis, will contribute to an improvement of the quality and efficiency of public authorities and the supply chains for meat production.

Human Benefit:
Within the project, parameters to empirically assess the quality of meat products are developed. The specific product and process characteristics (credence characteristics) from consumers’ perspectives will be described and analysed. Also, the aspect of animal welfare and the impact on the quality of the products bought by consumers will be analysed.
The Agro Technical Solution Model may help consumers to trace food products along the food chain to the feed suppliers. Through this, consumers receive the impression that they are partially in control of the system.