Increasing the value of agricultural goods by using traceability stamps

The province as a whole now has over 2,000 agricultural goods labeled with integrated QR codes to track their origin, namely grapefruit, sour pork, tea, rice, and safe fruits and vegetables... Households and manufacturing facilities that have been received certifications of food safety eligibility, VietGAP certification, HACCP... that fulfill requirements on proclaiming product quality standards, labeling, and products labels have been chosen to employ origin traceability stamps.

Hung Viet Commune Agricultural Cooperative’s Thach De rice noodles incorporate a QR code to trace the product’s origin.

Long Coc commune, Tan Son district, is recognized for hundreds of huge and tiny bowl-shaped tea hills that are tightly connected, making it not only a great spot to visit and check-in, but also a place where tea pots are created. Long Coc safe tea has a delicious, rich taste. Members of Long Coc Safe Tea Production Cooperative have actively participated in training classes to transfer progress science and technology on tea plants inside and outside the locality to produce tea buds according to VietGAP standards, creating a safe production area with clear origin since registering the brand copyright.

“With a diverse market and massive tea production in many places like today, creating a brand and a place in the market is important, we always focus on the quality that makes up the product brand, so using origin traceability stamps is a prerequisite to protect our products and win the trust of customers,” said Ms. Pham Thi Hanh, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and Director of the Cooperative.

Long Coc Commune Safe Tea Cooperative processes tea.

According to market development trends, Consumers want to know more about the process of manufacturing, packing, shipping, and shelf display, especially for things that directly influence health, such as food. Traceability is progressively becoming an obligatory criterion due to the practical benefits it delivers.

As one of the “young” cooperatives, newly established on the basis of the activities of the Thach De noodle, vermicelli, and cake craft village, the rice noodle products of the Agricultural Cooperative of Hung Viet commune, Cam Khe district are already on the shelves in many supermarkets and convenience stores because, since its inception, the cooperative has aimed at modern production, using the QR code system with the determination to direct clean, safe, and an excellent product.

"The Cooperative has designed the logo, packaging, registered barcodes and codes, printed labels, and packaged products according to standards to help consumers easily trace the source original, view instructions for use and preservation; Nutritional content... of the product you choose," said Mr. Phung Tuan Long, Director of the Cooperative. The Thach De Rice Noodles brand has garnered customer trust and a firm presence in the market as a result of its transparency of origin and commitment to product quality.

Traceability stamps make it easy for customers to determine the source and provenance of items.

The Provincial People’s Committee’s Plan No. 1492/KH-UBND dated April 13, 2020 on implementing and applying the origin traceability system; bar codes, product labeling, and announcement of quality standards for agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products in the province in the period 2020 - 2025 has set the following goal: Between 2021 and 2025, 70-80% of businesses, production, and business establishments in agriculture, forestry, fishery, and food in the province will have received information, propaganda, and knowledge about traceability activities; QR code; labeling goods, and announcing product quality standards. The deployment and application of the origin traceability system is supported for 100-150 firms, production and commercial institutions in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food. QR codes are used to mark items and announce product quality criteria.

It can be observed that origin traceability stamping has developed a strong relationship in each stage of manufacturing, controlling product quality, and is the “key” to developing customer trust and habits. Use food from reputable suppliers. This is also a solution for enhancing product value and sales volume by raising awareness and changing producer behavior toward product safety and transparency.

Vy An