The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in the global food supply chain as retailers and food manufacturers worked tirelessly to keep up with consumer demand. But, even earlier than that, traceability and transparency were becoming hot-button issues for companies that wanted to cater to consumer desires to know more about their food as well as a need to prevent product recalls. 

But, before you can make transparency a goal, you have to understand it. Here is what transparency in the food supply chain means, why it’s important, and how some businesses are beginning to address the issue.

The pandemic-induced spike in eCommerce has been credited with accelerating technology adoption in the supply chain at least five years ahead of what forecasters expected to see by now. But despite the rush to modernize, upgrade, automate and refresh hardware, software, and processes, many facilities are still missing some of their best opportunities to improve productivity with RFID.

The extreme climate event that kept Texas in the news for over a week put the spotlight on a lot of challenges that are growing due to climate change and extreme weather events. Putting aside the issue of Texas’ 80-year process of distancing their energy economy from the rest of the country, the tragic lack of preparation that appears to almost be intentional not only crippled the entire state, resulted in unnecessary deaths that were entirely preventable.