HDOA TO PILOT PROJECT ON FOOD SAFETY USING HIGH-TECH DEVICES

Summary of HDOA Pilot Project using Radio Frequency Identification Devices 

The RFID Pilot Project:

Recent incidents of e-coli outbreaks on the mainland and the pet food recalls due to contaminated food products have increased concern about where our food is coming from and where it has been distributed. 

The three-year pilot project is being coordinated by several of HDOA’s division, including the Quality Assurance Division and the Agricultural Development Division, and will use Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) to track and trace food products from the farm to the consumer.  The intent of this pilot project is to develop a simple and functional food traceablity system that may be expanded later for use by the state’s 5,000 farms.

The pilot project is planning to track produce such as tomatoes, watermelons, onions and others.

What is RFID?

In the pilot project, a box or pallet of produce will be tagged with a passive transmitter and can be traced as it moves through the food supply chain.  The product identity, time and the RFID read location will be automatically entered into a computer.  The farmer may also use the RFID system to log when the crop was planted, harvested and what pesticides were used, as well as other information.

When the product identification number is entered into the online database, any RFID reader (now available in cell phones) can be used to validate the source of the product.  If the inquiring person has access to the Internet, the number can be traced in real time, through the supply chain back to the farm of origin.  (See photo below)

The technology may also be able to track temperature and humidity information to determine if food products are transported and stored under appropriate conditions.  Research continues in this area and in the future, it is conceivable that RFID tags can alert the supply chain to conditions where a food product is not being handled under the right temperature and conditions.

Data from this pilot project will be maintained by the Quality Assurance Division of HDOA.

What is the cost?

The pilot project is expected to cost about $1.6 million over a three-year period.  The Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii has just announced a $450,000 grant to jump start this program.

HDOA has also submitted grant proposals to the Department of Homeland Security under its Food and Agricultural Safety and Defense program and the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program.

While pilot project participation will be funded with grant monies, operational costs to farmers and other project participants will be determined during the pilot project.

Who are the pilot program participants?

Pilot project participants include:  Weyerhaeuser (tagging cartons), Sugarland Farms (Kunia), Nalo Farms, Armstrong Produce (wholesaler/distributor), Foodland Supermarkets.   RFID support is being provided by:  Weyerhaeuser, Lowry/Globe Ranger (software), Symbol (Motorola – hardware, RFID readers), and Lowry Computer Products (RFID Systems Integrator).

For more information on the RFID project, contact:

John Ryan
Administrator, Quality Assurance Division
Ph:  (808) 832-0507
Fax:  (808) 832-0683
e-mail:  john.m.ryan@hawaii.gov

Samples of RFID tags that can be attached to boxes or pallets.  The sticker-like tags have an antenae embedded that allows the tag to be physically tracked.