Koltiva Champions Interoperable Traceability with IFT, Empowering Transparent and Inclusive Food Supply Chains

This publication is adopted from:

1. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ift-global-food-traceability-center-130800599.html

2. https://foodindustryexecutive.com/2025/09/ifts-global-food-traceability-center-launches-new-tool-to-accelerate-global-scalable-traceability/ 

3. https://www.globalseafood.org/advocate/new-tool-aims-to-standardize-food-traceability-across-global-supply-chains/ 

The global food system is in the midst of a critical transformation. Driven by stringent new regulatory requirements, escalating consumer demand for transparency, and the urgent need to verify environmental and ethical claims, end-to-end supply chain traceability is no longer optional, but it is also a fundamental necessity. The challenge lies in harmonizing the diverse, complex systems used across thousands of commodities and jurisdictions worldwide.

To address this challenge head-on, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Global Food Traceability Center (GFTC) launched an open source tool to strengthen interoperability, called the Traceability Driver that is designed to simplify the process for existing traceability systems to convert their data into standardized formats, enabling seamless data exchange that supports sustainability and strengthens supply chain integrity.

Validating Global Standards to Empower Smallholders

To bring this innovation closer to real-world application, IFT collaborated with industry partners to test and refine the tool within active supply chains. Koltiva volunteered to participate in the beta testing to help accelerate the adoption of globally recognized traceability standards, ensuring that smallholders and upstream actors can seamlessly connect to international markets. By integrating the Traceability Driver into its traceability platform, Koltiva demonstrated its practical use and compatibility with existing systems. Through this process, the company proved the tool’s capability to achieve Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) compliance in aquaculture supply chains—providing tangible proof of concept for broader industry adoption.

Driving Unprecedented Compliance and Supply Chain Integrity

The results of the validation process demonstrate the game-changing potential of this initiative. Before implementing the Traceability Driver, achieving full alignment with GDST and GS1’s EPCIS standards would require months of costly custom development.

By utilizing this open-source solution, Koltiva achieved a 60% reduction in the estimated development time needed to achieve compliance and successfully pass the GDST Capability Test.

“We estimate a 60% reduction in development time. Instead of initially planned three to four months to build and develop our own APIs, we were able to install the Traceability Driver and pass the GDST Capability Test in about a month. It also allowed us to avoid additional engineering costs”, said Ryan Andriawan, Engineering Manager at Koltiva.

This standardization is a game-changer for accelerating compliance, reducing implementation costs, and fundamentally strengthening the integrity of global food networks. As Blake Harris, Managing Director of IFT's Global Food Traceability Center, stated:

“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 harmonization with other regulations and industry practices, enhancing interoperable, end-to-end traceability that strengthens the integrity of global supply chains.” 

By providing the real-world validation for this global benchmark, Koltiva reinforces its position as a forward-thinking leader, building greater trust and ensuring a truly sustainable future for agricultural and food systems worldwide.

The Traceability Driver is designed to go far beyond the seafood industry. Its adaptable and scalable framework can be applied to other commodities that follow EPCIS-based standards, making it a versatile solution for diverse traceability challenges across multiple supply chains. The tool’s flexibility has already been demonstrated through Harris’s recent work with the Indonesian government to align its national seafood traceability system with the GDST standard, showcasing its potential to harmonize global traceability practices.