Asian Seafood Safety

Hong Kong
Bureau

Edited by James M. Kelly
IBM, FXA GROUP AND VIETNAM JOIN FORCES TO ENSURE GLOBAL SEAFOOD SAFETY

For years, IBM has been involved in projects relating to food and has provided millions of dollars in aid and for research and development in the field. With innovative technology, IBM has been providing effective solutions to ensure that all food products being exported are traceable at all times.

Now, in a one of a kind joint venture, IBM has united hands with the FXA group and the authorities of Vietnam to launch a campaign to aid the improvement of global food safety. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and the Vietnamese State Agency for Technological Innovation (SATI) are deeply involved in the project and aim to ensure the complete and absolute safety of seafood trade, in Vietnam.

Organizations associated with the VASEP have won numerous prizes, including the prestigious Grand Prize for nutrition and health at the Seafood Prix d’Elite competition, held under the aegis of the European Seafood Exhibition 2009 in Brussels, Belgium.

Vietnam exported seafood worth over $4.25 billion, in the year 2008. With this joint project, VASEP and SATI aim at the proper and regular tracking of Vietnamese seafood exports, which will be monitored via the radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The entire exercise is being undertaken to ensure that the seafood being exported is totally fresh, when it arrives at the global markets.

The technology being offered by IBM and FXA will initially be tested in a few seafood farms in Vietnam, who export to nations like Japan and USA. By using the technology offered by these hi-tech companies, VASEP and SATI will be able to collect vital data regarding each batch of seafood, meant for purposes of export. The collected data will include information such as the name of the farm from where the seafood was procured, when and where it was processed, the temperature that needs to be maintained and the present location of the consignment or batch.

With all this information available, every single one of the parties involved will benefit, since they will have a steady flow of information. This project aims at offering a better solution for wholesalers, shippers as well as retailers.