OPEN-SOURCE SOLUTION STREAMLINES GLOBAL FOOD TRACEABILITY
On 19 September 2025, the Center unveiled the “Traceability Driver”, an open-source module designed to standardise how traceability data is shared across the food value chain. The Global Food Traceability Center (GFTC), part of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), is known for its applied research, tools, training programmes and customised support that help organisations implement end-to-end, event-based and interoperable traceability. Its announcement comes at a time when transparency and trust have become central to modern systems in the food sector. With this new module, GFTC takes a significant step toward helping global supply chains speak a common data language.
Why the tool matters
Traceability is no longer just about endpoints or lots: it is evolving into digital, end-to-end systems where products (and their inputs) are tracked from origin through every stage of processing, distribution and retail. As many food industry observers note, the real challenge does not just lie in collecting data, but in making sure that data can be shared, inter-operably, across disparate systems.
The Traceability Driver tackles exactly this: by enabling existing traceability software systems to convert their data into standard formats, it unlocks interoperability. According to the GFTC, the module automates data conversion, includes a pre-built API for efficient exchange, and is deployed locally, meaning organisations retain full control of their information.
By lowering the cost, time and effort of meeting data-standards, the module allows companies to focus more on their core operations while staying aligned with global requirements.
Key features of the Traceability Driver
The Traceability Driver comes with several key features designed to make data-sharing simpler and more reliable across the food value chain. As an open-source module, it can be installed by any organisation or software provider and integrated into existing systems to enable standardised traceability data exchange. It automates the conversion of traceability information into compliant, widely accepted formats, reducing the need for manual data re-engineering. A pre-built API streamlines connectivity and data transfer between partners. Because the module is deployed locally on-premises, organisations retain full control of their data and infrastructure, an essential requirement for traceability, data sovereignty and trust. The system also supports major global standards such as the EPCIS framework managed by GS1, which is widely used to capture and share supply-chain events.
Industry pilot and evidence of impact
In a case study detailed by IFT and industry press, agritech company Koltiva integrated the Traceability Driver into its system as part of the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) First Mile Aquaculture Capability Test. Before implementing the tool, Koltiva faced the challenge of aligning its data with GDST and EPCIS standards.
Installation and compliance with the capability test took approximately one month compared with the three to four months originally estimated for building APIs and re-formatting data. According to the case study, development time fell by around 60 %.
This rapid turnaround and cost reduction bode well for broader adoption, especially for organisations that may lack extensive IT resources or whose systems were not built with interoperability in mind.
Broader implications across supply chains
While the case study is anchored in seafood, GFTC emphasises that the Traceability Driver has potential far beyond that sector. The tool is adaptable and scalable for other commodities, provided they follow EPCIS-based standards. This means food sectors such as produce, dairy, beef, packaged foods or even ingredients may leverage the same module to meet traceability, sustainability and regulatory requirements. As the tool bridges the “digital divide” between systems, it supports the shift from stove-pipe or paper-based tracking to interoperable, digital traceability networks.
Traceability has long been a food safety requirement, but increasingly it is becoming a cornerstone of sustainability, legality and ethical sourcing regimes. Regulatory frameworks such as the U.S. Food Traceability Final Rule (FSMA 204), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and other due-diligence laws depend on robust traceability systems.
By providing an open-source, standardised bridge, the Traceability Driver helps companies align with these obligations while supporting broader supply-chain integrity. As Blake Harris, Managing Director of the GFTC, puts it: “By designing traceability regulations around common global standards, governments can unlock the use of scalable open-source tools like the Traceability Driver. This kind of solution not only makes it easier for industry and their technology partners to comply but also supports harmonisation with other regulations and industry practices, enhancing interoperable, end-to-end traceability that strengthens the integrity of global supply chains.”
What this means for food industry players
For food-industry stakeholders, from producers and processors to distributors, retailers and technology providers, the launch of the Traceability Driver brings several practical implications. Organisations that already use traceability systems can integrate the module to reduce implementation costs and speed up alignment with global standards. Smaller actors, such as first-mile suppliers, farmers and agritech companies, may find it particularly empowering, as the tool lowers barriers to digital traceability and data sharing. Technology vendors can explore how the module complements their existing platforms, while corporate supply-chain teams may see it as a natural step in their digital transformation roadmap, where interoperability is becoming essential for achieving end-to-end transparency. Regulatory and sustainability teams can also view the solution as a bridge between internal traceability efforts and growing external compliance requirements from regulators, customers and NGOs.
Future outlook: Unlocking opportunities
Looking ahead, the rise of open-source and standardised modules presents significant opportunities for the food industry, even if some considerations remain. Organisations will still need to map their internal data, processes and systems to standard formats, ensuring strong governance, data quality and alignment, but this work ultimately strengthens their overall digital infrastructure. The module delivers the most value for companies that already have some level of digital traceability in place, while those still relying on paper-based processes can see it as a catalyst for broader digital transformation. As always, end-to-end traceability depends on every link in the chain, which makes industry collaboration more important than ever. And as expectations expand beyond food safety to include sustainability, human rights, deforestation and carbon reporting, the system’s architecture will need to stay flexible and future-proof.
Even with these considerations, the launch of the Traceability Driver marks real progress in making traceability more accessible, more interoperable and more globally scalable.
For the food ecosystem, this means less time and cost spent on custom integrations and data-format chaos, and more focus on value-creation: efficiency, trust, sustainability, and compliance. As global supply chains become ever more complex, such tools will be foundational, not optional.
SIAL Paris, the world’s largest international food expo, offers many opportunities to explore innovation in different food industry sectors and to learn more about hot topics such as traceability.