“Ethical Traceability” in a globalised world

Traceability as a concept has emerged in modern societies and their global markets where production and consumption of food have become increasingly separated. An increasing number of intermediaries like shippers, wholesalers, processors, repackers, brokers, importers and exporters are involved in the processes. All of these factors add to the obscurity of how food is produced, how it is handled and from where it originates.
Traceability is about keeping track with the history of the food. Ethical traceability is about keeping track with the ethical aspects of food production practices and the conditions under which the food is produced. It can be used as a verification process of the methods and practices in use in response to consumer concerns. The emergence of ethical traceability as a realisable concept will need to negotiate both modern supply chain complexities and their governance and the web of private sector and public sector endorsed traceability forms in the food system. Realisation of ethical traceability is not just a morally approved step supported by appropriate technology and communication strategies, but is a politically disputed process.