The Future of Livestock Products: The Value of Information Technology

Find out how information sharing benefits all members of your value chain!

Traditionally, farm products have not been linked to information sharing in ways that have benefited consumers or producers. The lack of free-flowing information and transparency has historically contributed to severe recall impacts, consumer distrust and unclear consumer preferences. Without information technology, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to determine exactly which products are preferred by consumers, why, and how to best meet consumer demands by connecting them to the right producers.

That’s why information and technology are now stepping into an integral role in the value chain. This is not limited to farm products, but a free flow of information may be all the more valuable when concerning products of consumption, for both safety and business reasons. Let’s take a closer examination as to how information and technology can add value to your business.

Information Can Be Shared with Consumers and Partners Alike

The best thing about information sharing is that it benefits your entire value chain, including you. Sharing information with consumers adds transparency to your business, increasing consumer trust and heightening interest in your product. Likewise, sharing information with partners, such as producers, vendors and farmers, contributes to a seamless flow of information from end to end. In the case of livestock products, this means better food safety, a more accurate understanding of meat characteristics, and a clear way to link the end product to the practices that went into raising the animal, giving farmers and producers a blueprint as to how to produce better and more profitable products.

Know Which Products Are Most Appealing

Information sharing also allows vendors, producers and farmers to understand which products have the most appeal to consumers. By tracking your sales inventory and tracing items back to the source, you can connect the dots between farmer and consumer. Products with certain characteristics, such as a higher degree of marbling or tenderness, may be preferred by some customers, while other clients may seek out other qualities. Connecting products with specific characteristics to the appropriate consumers allows you to better meet the needs of consumer demand, and ultimately grow your profits.

Adapt to the Needs and Interests of Your Value Chain

Canada’s beef cattle identification system, originally established in 1998, was designed with the needs of the entire value chain in mind. In particular, the safety of consumers can be safeguarded by maintaining secure information on each animal, its movements, where the animal is processed and where the products end up. Doing so allows the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to trace the origins of any food safety issues that may arise linked on animal’s product. As national regulations requiring information traceability continue to develop, it’s imperative that farmers, producers and vendors alike all get on board with information sharing as quickly as possible.

Combine Information Sharing Technology with Livestock Management

With these concerns in mind, BIO developed a comprehensive system that connects livestock management with product and information traceability to allow your entire value chain to benefit from the end-to-end story of animals and their products. bioTrack, our range-ready livestock management software, can be used both on and offline to store secure records on your animals. After processing, bioLinks connects animal IDs to their products and product characteristics, creating a seamless flow of information that benefits your entire value chain.

Conclusion

In the age of increasing transparency, heightened food security and risk management, you can’t afford not to invest in technology that allows you to meet consumer demands while also benefiting your own business. Information sharing is the future of livestock products, and international meat markets are rising to the challenge. Don’t get left behind as the market evolves to meet enhanced consumer demands. bioLinks is here to help.

How do you currently use information sharing to benefit your value chain? What technology helps you the most? Start the discussion below!