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1. Current Verification Testing
[PJN 001] Traceability of agricultural produce
Starting in summer 2003, the Ubiquitous ID Center (under the
auspices of the T-Engine Forum) is conducting a food traceability
test on perishable food in collaboration with the Yokosuka
Telecom Research Park, Yokosuka Hayama Agricultural Cooperative,
Keikyu Stores, and the University of Tokyo.
Participants:
The T-Engine Forum (represented by the Ubiquitous ID Center),
YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory, Yokosuka Hayama Agricultural
Cooperative, Keikyu Stores, and Sakamura Laboratory at the
University of Tokyo
Period:
2003 (July 2003 to March 2004)
Overview of Testing:
The term "traceability" generally describes how
consumers are provided with information about food products
that is collected at each step of processing, from production
to distribution to sales. In the event of incidents affecting
the food quality, traceability is designed to enable us to
identify the cause quickly and confirm the scope of impact
by tracing how the food was transported.
Through this verification test of ubiquitous ID technology
at work, we hope to prove the extent to which ubiquitous ID
technology can be effective in ensuring food safety by establishing
traceability.
The verification testing is characterized by the following
considerations.
First, it encourages the development of an integrated tracking
system that combines a way to check for processing mistakes
in the production and distribution of perishable food and
a way to trace problems. In this way, it is designed to provide
direct benefits to all contributors along the chain of traceability.
For the current test, we are focusing more closely on checking
mechanisms in the production stage.
Second, it proves the value of a food traceability system
empowered by an integrated ubiquitous environment system using
advanced, miniscule RFID tags and other ubiquitous ID technology.
This illustration depicts
the overall concept of the verification test.
*The test has received support from the Japanese Ministry
of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in their 2003 program
to develop a system for traceability.
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