Benefits of Traceability Solutions Research Results Announced

Starfish Network recently conducted an analysis of the benefits of traceability solutions. This study surveyed professionals across various food-related sub-industries, including produce, meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, packaged & manufactured goods. The surveyed companies spanned across production, logistics, retail, and services functions across the industry value chain. Respondents came from both large and small companies, with employees from Kroger, Merck, and Amazon included.

Survey Method

Respondents were asked which benefits they Intended and Incurred/ Experienced when utilizing traceability benefits, additionally they were asked which benefit they felt was the Most Valuable. Four answers were offered: (1) Improve Compliance, Insurance, and Legal; (2) Improve Operational Efficiency; (3) Reduce Impact of Recalls, Waste, and Errors; and (4) Increase Revenue. These four options were based on categories of traceability benefits defined by Planet Tracker.

Survey Results

Reducing the Impact of Recalls, Waste, and Errors was a significant reason for companies engaging with traceability solutions. This answer was the #1 most chosen intended benefit in 7 out of 10 respondent categories, with it being the #2 most chosen in the other 3 categories.

Reducing the Impact of Recalls, Waste, and Errors and Increasing Revenue were equally common benefits that respondents Incurred / Experienced. Both answers were the #1 most chosen Intended benefit in 5 out of 10 respondent categories, with both being either the #1 or #2 most chosen in all categories.

Interestingly, when asked which benefit of utilizing traceability was the most valuable, the other two answer options gained prominence. Improving Operational Efficiency was the #1 most chosen as the Most Valuable benefit in 8 out of 10 categories, with it being the #2 most chosen in the other 2 categories. Uniquely, Improving Compliance, Insurance, and Legal was the #1 Most Valuable benefit for Dairy and Egg companies, this being the only time it appeared as the most significant benefit in any question and the largest gap between the #1 and #2 most chosen benefit across sub-industry categories.

Empirical Findings

Recall, Waste, and Error impact reductions in findings from empirical studies come in the form of greater speed and information quality. In a survey conducted by Sparling and others (2011), 60% of growers and processors chose “faster and more precise recalls” as the greatest benefit to tracing services. This significance is supported by examples of major efficiency in recall management. Including outbreak-source identification time reduction from 35 days to 6 days and a reduction in the direct costs of recalls by 90% for short shelf life products (like fresh seafood) and by 95% for longer shelf life products (like frozen seafood) [Planet Tracker].

Increasing Revenue results in empirical findings come in the form of price premiums and greater sales volumes. The Sparling and others (2011) survey included supply chain efficiencies (operational efficiency) or increased market access (revenue) as the next most common responses for the greatest traceability benefits. Revenue increase can come from increase can from expanded markets and increased customer demand, which 50-62% of firms reported in a Planet Tracker survey. Chinese and Japanese consumers expressed that they would be willing to pay a 6% and 10% premium for traceable seafood [Planet Tracker].

Improving Operational Efficiency benefits in empirical findings span multiple types of outcomes. An Indonesian fishing company experienced a 10% reduction in unproductive vessel trips [Pointrek]. Fresh Del Monte experienced energy and efficiency savings of 15 – 30% [Strailey 2023]. A study on the Spanish vegetable industry found reduced production disruptions of 90%, lower indirect costs of 20%, increased warehousing capacity of 15% and cut safety stock of 30%.

The Dairy and Egg sub-industry’s focus on Improving Compliance, Insurance, and Legal could stem from the sector’s heightened frequency of recalls, with Dairy accounting for the most recalls by far in Q1 2025, with the number being consistent in 2024 [Global Food Recall Index 2025].

Conclusion

Reducing the Impact of Recalls, Waste, and Errors, and Revenue Increases are the most intended and experienced benefits of traceability services. Operational Efficiency is the most valuable benefit, this remains consistent across company roles and sub-industries, with Dairy a possible exception.

Sources:

Starfish Network strives to improve the safety of food. The team believes in the ability of traceability solutions to drive impactful benefits to achieve this goal and hopes that this and further research will drive awareness for the potential of traceability.