Making sense of data transparency, gaining the most from your data

Paul McKeithan, Bühler Aeroglide

Transparency in food manufacturing is a critical focus for food companies, and feed trends typically follow food. Today, it may not necessarily be a requirement for everyone in the aquafeed industry, but the need for transparency is here to stay. If transparency is a growing business priority, why aren’t more companies focused on it? Perhaps, they don’t know who to ask or what tools to use. Perhaps, they fall into the trap of looking for the latest gizmo, although production of aquafeed is tried and true. Game-changing technology is not that prevalent. Transparency starts with manufacturing operations and data, and has tremendous value when shared and used. While feed manufacturers have a good grasp of their workflow processes, having the ability to make appropriate information available in real-time to regulators, consumers and internal safety personnel is something the industry is still learning about. The idea of “open transparency” is that transparency is in the data, it’s not just about the transparency of the data. The "Open Source Initiative" allows anyone to create modifications to open source code, port it to new operating systems, share with others and even market it. Although Microsoft first believed it would destroy intellectual property, the company is now the number one provider of open source code. This approach allows natural collaboration and a unique opportunity for the aquafeed industry to partner with open communities. Sharing information can remove points of friction in a supply chain and grow brand equity. In fact, the ability to show transparency may be a processor’s biggest competitive advantage. Forbes called transparency and trust the new currency of brand loyalty. Finding the right partner can help you make sense of data transparency, and help you make the most of your data. By concentrating on transparency, you can become more sustainable in the processes you already know.

Raw material tracing

At some point, there will be a need to recall in any operation. Supply chains are increasingly more complex and contain numerous stakeholders, each performing

specific roles pertaining to feed production. Raw material traceability means the feed manufacturer has the ability to track a product or ingredient from the point of sale back to its point of origin, with information available about all transactions and movements in between. This can enable the manufacturer to implement a recall in a big cross section of different vendors, even before the market demands it. The roots of traceability stem from food safety concerns and regulations that were pursued to ensure companies had a way to recall contaminated products. Some processors see it as a way to learn what comes into the processing plants and what has left. Some consider it a highly-sophisticated electronic data system, storing product info in barcodes that are easily accessible. Still, others see it as essential information that represents the standards held by a company. All are correct and function to serve the different company and regulatory needs. The type of traceability a company uses will vary and depend on where it is positioned in the supply chain, and the kind of product it handles.

Ingredients and feed certification

Global aquaculture production has increased rapidly over recent years, with a larger portion of the world's fish coming from farms, rather than wildcaught sources. As a result, there are widespread concerns about the safety and purity of the resulting products and the effect farming might be having on the environment. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council manages the leading certification and labeling programs for responsible aquaculture, working towards environmental sustainability, while the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) promotes advocacy, education and leadership in responsible aquaculture. In June, the GAA released the latest version of "Best Aquafeed Practices" (BAP), with new guidelines for the selection of ingredients and mill biosecurity. BAP certifies farms, hatcheries, feed mills, processing plants, and pre-processors, based on independent audits that evaluate compliance with the BAP standards developed by GAA. Companies like Skretting already require its aquafeed mills to adhere to certifications

and standards. However, certification can only happen when data is made transparent.

Blockchain implementation

Blockchain technology is a tool that has the potential to validate the tracking of feed and sustainability data, by linking individual data sets to produce unalterable records and digital ledgers for sharing. Blockchain technology can improve the traceability and safety of feed by creating the history of products and ingredients as they go through the production cycle, especially where environments are complex and fragmented, linking companies and siloed activities. It offers the potential to verify the authenticity of premium products and enhance the traceability of issues that require correction, such as those that lead to product recalls. Many processors perceive blockchain as the key to transparency and how data is shared, but it’s important to realize that this technology is a tool no different than a hammer in a carpenter’s toolbox. Whether or not it is the right tool has yet to be determined.

Getting started

In most processes in our industry, there’s a correct and understood path to follow, but when it comes to data sharing, there is no standardized process. I’m frequently asked to provide advice, on IoT boxes and gateways, and explain how blockchain is used. The digitalization of data and the idea of transparency is still novel, and there are many available tools. In my talks with the industry, I encourage processors to be curious and open to engaging beyond the equipment, the smart machines, the connectivity platforms and data-sensor boxes. I encourage them to look for a partner who can bring the most value, and in many ways, this is no different from dating. With the right partner, you can determine together the best way to share data. IoT is the enabler, and there is no wrong way to share. Traditionally, a sharing connection might occur once a month by phone. But now, there can be an ongoing connection in the details, with the partner who might ask: How was your day? Can I get you a cup of coffee? Are you picking up the kids, or am I? These connection points are necessary to make the system work. The goal of IoT is to increase these connection points to your solution partners, and it is through these details that sustainability can be achieved.

Finding the right partner

Look for the relationship that can offer the most contact points, the most intimacy, and the most shared information, with your ingredient provider, your shipping provider and other connections in the production process. You shouldn’t have to look outside the industry to establish a digital relationship. It can happen with someone you already know. In the initial period, a service will be shaped to discover ways to become more sustainable in the processes you already know. Having the ability to see data in a real-time way, along with your partner, will allow you to see the answers to questions you didn’t know to ask. These won’t be new solutions, but they will offer a more consistent way to execute solutions. Perhaps you operate an aquafeed mill, and the drying process is the final step. When drying parameters change due to temperature or operator error, feed pellets may dry inefficiently. As a result, processing changes must be implemented to get the airflow and bed depth adjusted in order to return to the optimum drying conditions. But what if six months later the same thing happens again. Having real-time transparency with a partner means situations like this can be resolved within minutes, keeping you on task. While your partner stays focused on the drying, watching the real-time data, you can stay focused on other tasks. This is not a new solution, but it is a sustainable way to keep the solution in place using the data you already have. This is not just a computerized dashboard, it is a combination of technology and traditional service with a partner looking at your data, calling and working with you so that you get the most out of that data. When you achieve open transparency in the data, with a partner who will always be there, you will find extraordinary value.

More information: Paul McKeithan, Bühler

Head of Digital Services Bühler Aeroglide, USA E: paul.mckeithan@buhlergroup.com