WHAT SETS TRACT APART?
Co-created to support a more sustainable and resilient future for food and agriculture
Despite the significance of environmental sustainability and social impact, measuring and reporting it has never been straightforward, particularly in the food and agricultural sector. Common concerns include too much or not enough data, a proliferation of different measurement systems and difficulties comparing like with like; all of which mean lengthy periods to gather and compare the necessary information to gain insights and make evidence-based decisions. And it can result in a stalling of the progress that supply chain sustainability – and the world – requires right now.
Legislation and regulation in the food and agriculture sector is tightening up, the impacts of climate change are becoming more severe and more frequent across the supply chain, and managers find themselves having to adapt rapidly to gather ever more data. It is generally accepted that the food and agriculture systems need transformation but as things currently stand, it’s difficult to generate the kind of impact needed at scale.
A solution for the industry, by the industry
TRACT was created by people in the industry witnessing these problems every day and who were determined to find another, better way forward. They began by imagining an independent platform where sustainability managers could see all the data consistently across their supply chains, giving them a reliable basis to compare, manage and report it. And so they designed a neutral, one-stop-shop digital platform that aligns existing sustainability reporting methodologies and effectively creates a common language for users to measure and report on sustainability. For the first time, all the measurement data and insights are all in one place. This improves traceability and transparency and will give users radically simplified sustainability oversight for reporting and allow them to focus on the most important task: impact delivery.
The platform contains easy-to-use features that will enable standardised data gathering, allowing for like-for-like comparisons both within commodity groups and across them. Growers, producers and manufacturers in the food and agriculture industry will have access to key information for transparent reporting and meaningful benchmarking, which could make a real difference to the industry. Users will be able to upload environmental, social and economic topics on the platform, share with buyers and request from suppliers.
Representing the breadth and depth of the industry, the team co-creating the technical aspects of the platform includes multi-disciplinary specialists from more than eight high- profile companies. Their expertise will ensure this platform is the credible, detailed and pragmatic tool the industry needs.
“We were determined to address the sustainability challenges that we all face in food and ag supply chains. The data and insights that will now be accessible will not only help the specific platform user, but should benefit the whole industry…from farmer to consumer. We’re hopeful that this will be a real game-changer.”
Once an organisation subscribes to TRACT and becomes a user, they will have access to the essential insights and data, but they will not be able to see any competitive or sensitive information from other users. Indeed, data confidentiality is one of the most important aspects of the platform. A robust “security by design” architecture and operational safeguards are at the heart of the platform and are repeatedly tested to ensure data privacy.
Accelerating transformation of Food and Ag supply chains
The impact of this initiative is poised to accelerate transformation of supply chains in the food and agriculture sector. By equipping businesses with the necessary data to inform and drive sustainability measures, the platform will undoubtedly play an important role in a more sustainable and resilient future.
“It’s no secret that food and agriculture supply chains face increasing sustainability challenges and to meet them, we’re going to need to transform the industry. We’re confident that the tools in this smart, independent platform - backed by detailed information and analysis by dedicated specialists from across the industry – will help accelerate that transformation.
“We believe that TRACT marks a significant step towards overcoming the hurdles faced by the food and agriculture industry in pursuing the most sustainable practices. With a united effort, we can embrace the potential of data-driven decisions and chart a course towards a more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive future for all stakeholders in the supply chain.”