July 28, 2008

Norway's Nortura to track pork using RFID technology

Matiq, the IT subsidiary of Norway's largest food supplier Nortura BA Group, is teaming up with IBM to use radio frequency identification (RFID) to track pork and other meats from slaughterhouses and processing plants to shops.

Technology giant IBM will provide software and integration services to the project.

The RFID system, part of Nortura's vision to trace meat from birth to the consumer's plate, will be used to track pork as well as poultry, beef and lamb. The first phase of the pilot is slated to launch this autumn at two animal harvesting facilities, one distribution centre and one supermarket.

Matiq began researching RFID technology years ago, but the concept of animal tracking is not new in Norway.

The Norwegian government has set a 2010 deadline to develop food traceability standards and policy, as part of its e-Traceability programme, a national project that aims to increase food safety through animal tracking. 

Nortura is Norway's largest food supplier. The company provides 54 percent of consumer meat products sold in the country and 73 percent of slaughtered animals.