Australia explores traceable seafood supply chain through microbials

The entire Australian seafood supply chain has the potential to be fully traceable, according to the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (Seafood CRC).

Using a system of small hand-held mobile data storage devices called micro-mobile information systems, the industry would be able to predict microbial growth patterns and thus trace the seafood.

PhD student Steven Cambridge from the University of Tasmania and the Seafood CRC will study the seafood supply chain in Tasmania to develop systems for tracking, tracing, monitoring and assuring quality.

Associate Professor Paul Turner from the University of Tasmania who specialises in information systems said, ''What makes this research project so exciting is it will stimulate and support innovation in supply chain logistics which will improve product integrity, quality and safety from the coast right through to the cuisine''.

This project also has the potential to provide real support for logistics managers to respond to new challenges of consignment management, the Seafood CRC said.

Another benefit of the project will be genuine feedback to producers, growers and rocessors about product contamination and microbial infection post-harvest.