Today, traceability of agricultural products has become the most important issue in terms of ensuring food safety all over the world. Various studies have been carried out on this subject and are still being carried out.
The most important article of the Good Agricultural Practices Standard is the establishment of the Traceability System.
The most important role in ensuring traceability is to keep accurate and simultaneous records of all production processes.
It is necessary to create a reliable network between the producer and the end consumer and to facilitate the flow of information.
After any possible problem with the product is detected (drug residue, quality, physical problems), when retrospective inquiries are made, it is of vital importance to quickly access the origin of the product and who produced it, and to get to the source of the problem.
The most important resource for making these inquiries and accessing all information from a single point will be to utilize agricultural informatics.
Moreover, this information will help the retail sector not only in terms of food safety but also in determining consumer demands, production planning and supply.
When the manufacturer detects a problem with the product he produces, he should be able to recall the product, and at the same time, the seller of the product should be able to access the origin of the product and even the information of the workers working in the facility that packages the product.
What will be monitored here is the production point, packaging point, logistics, market and the final consumer.
The maximum information required to ensure traceability is listed below.
LAND RECORDS
A) IDENTIFICATION OF THE MANUFACTURER
Within the scope of Good Agricultural Practices, the first step of the traceability system should include the following information to identify the producer.
Manufacturer's Name Surname, ID number, ÇKS registration number, Address, phone, Title Deed Parcel Numbers.
B) DEFINITION OF PRODUCTION AREA AND PRODUCT
One of the important issues in establishing Traceability within the scope of Good Agricultural Practices is the definitions related to the production area and product. This definition should include the following information.
Product Type, Variety name to be produced, Area size, Parcel code, Production code, Land soil and irrigation water analysis results to be used, Production area address, Consultant name, planting date, harvest date, harvest amount, planting interval, irrigation method, number of plants per decare, production season.
C) RECORDS OF CHEMICAL CONTROL USED IN PRODUCT PROTECTION
The most important chemicals used in a production area are Insecticides, Fungicides and Herbicides used to combat pests and diseases.
Records of all agricultural drugs used (in which production area, in what quantity, on what date, active ingredient, for which disease or pest it was used, harvest waiting period, license date, invoice number, who applied it and who recommended it) must be kept.
D) FERTILISER RECORDS
Records of all types of fertilizers used (when, how much, to which production area, content, trade name, by whom applied) must be kept.
E) HARVEST RECORDS
When, in what quantity and quality the product was harvested, by whom it was collected, to whom it was sold and the invoices of each batch should be recorded.
F) PACKAGING, PROCESSING, STORAGE RECORDS
Records of the entire process from the product's acceptance to the transportation stage (who processed it, what chemicals it came into contact with if used, on which pallet it was palletized, which store and market it was sent to, transportation vehicle information, and interior temperature measurements of the vehicle) should be kept.
G) ANALYSIS
Records of the chemical analysis of the soil used in production, the physical, chemical and microbiological analysis results of the irrigation water, and the residue (pesticide residue analysis) results of the harvested product must be kept.