RFID animal food traceability system

The animal food safety traceability system includes many links from "farm" to "consumer", mainly including six links: breeding farm, transportation and logistics, slaughterhouse, logistics and warehousing, supermarket and consumer. The traceability process and relationship between them are information model that matches

In order to ensure that consumers can trace the entire process from the table to the farm, animals need to be marked with different labels in the six links in Figure 1, and the labeled animal food must be managed and recorded in each link. .

1.2 Basic framework of traceability system

The data of the traceability system is gradually generated in multiple links during the animal food production process, and is added to the traceability system in the corresponding links. It is difficult to Store and manage a large amount of multi-type traceability information only through identification tags. A combination of tags and data centers is required to meet the complex requirements of information management in traceability systems. Each product in the animal food processing link is uniquely identified through labeling technology, as shown in Figure 2. A corresponding information management platform is established in each processing link. The platform collects the information of each product in the processing link and summarizes it in the food safety data center. There are specialized government agencies to supervise the entire process. Consumers can query all the production links and key information that the product has gone through from the data center based on the product's label. Manufacturers at any link can trace products upward and downward through the system, and the government can use the information in the data center. Establish an automatic food safety monitoring platform.

2 Discussion on the application of organic RFID in animal food traceability system

Animal food involves many aspects such as livestock breeding, slaughtering, processing, circulation and sales. Its entire production process from the farm to the table is much more complex than other foods. Therefore, the traceability information covers a wider range, the amount of information is larger, and the traceability is Information is transferred more frequently. It is not realistic to use electronic tags throughout the entire production and circulation chain based on China's current economic foundation and industry development level. Different production links have different requirements for labeling technology, which can be flexibly selected according to needs.

2.1 Breeding farm

After the livestock in the farm are born, the farm management platform generates a unique "production identification code" and registers the information in the food safety data center to establish an individual livestock information database. The batches, feed, immunization, quarantine and other conditions of livestock during the feeding process are all recorded in the food safety data center through the management platform. Since 2D barcodes are susceptible to contamination and damage from livestock during the livestock breeding process, and the livestock tags need to be registered one by one during the information entry process, it is not suitable for multiple tags to be entered at the same time. Therefore, in the breeding process, it is suitable to use RFID tags as the carrier of "production identification code". Each RFID tag and "production identification code" correspond one to one in the data center. Based on the breeding time of livestock and the life span of inorganic RFID tags, inorganic RFID tags are used for livestock raised for more than 1 year, and organic RFID tags are used for livestock raised for less than 1 year. In the breeding process, organic RFID tags or inorganic RFID tags can be used according to needs. Although the cost of inorganic RFID tags is higher than that of organic RFID tags, due to the limited number of livestock in the breeding stage, the increased cost is acceptable for large animals.

2.2 Logistics and transportation

In logistics transportation, the basic information of logistics enterprises and the basic situation of logistics are registered in the food safety data center through the logistics transportation management platform. At this time, the RFID tag in the breeding process can still be used as the unique identifier for management.

2.3 Slaughterhouse

There are several production links in the slaughterhouse. The production process can be monitored on the assembly line according to the identification of livestock. Each link is registered in the data center through the slaughterhouse management platform. Livestock are slaughtered and cut up in slaughterhouses. The management platform before segmentation reads the "production identification code" of the meat to be segmented and generates multiple "slaughter identification codes" based on the quantity to be segmented. Each slaughter identification code corresponds to the corresponding segmented part, such as head, tenderloin, liver, etc. . "Slaughter identification code" and "production identification code" are registered in the data center and a corresponding relationship is established. The "slaughter identification number" is then marked on the label and becomes a unique identifier for a specific part of a specific animal. The "production identification code" can be used to trace the divided meat, and the "slaughter identification code" can be traced back to the animal before being divided, completing the transfer and transmission of traceability information from the whole animal to the meat.

After the meat is divided, each part needs to be labeled, and the number of labels required is relatively large. The use of inorganic RFID tags will bring a huge cost burden. Therefore, the batch can only be tracked and managed, and it is difficult to track and manage the divided parts. The meat is subject to individual tracking and management. The cost problem can be solved well by using very cheap organic RFID tags or two-dimensional barcodes. However, the reading of 2D barcodes is limited and is not suitable for automatic reading of identification codes in multiple production links in slaughterhouses. Moreover, 2D barcodes are susceptible to contamination and are not suitable for the needs of slaughterhouses. In view of the short time of the slaughtering process, the organic RFID life span can meet the needs of this process. Organic RFID tags have the advantages of environmental adaptability, cost, reading method, etc., and can play an irreplaceable role in the slaughtering and segmentation process.

2.4 Warehousing and logistics

Based on the analysis in 2.3, “slaughter identification code” is used for information management in the logistics and warehousing process. The management platform summarizes basic logistics information, basic warehousing information, logistics temperature, storage temperature and other information at multiple time nodes to the information center to realize individualized process management of animal food in the logistics and warehousing links.

2.5 Supermarket

Meat continues to be cut up in supermarkets. The supermarket management platform reads the "slaughter identification code" identified by the organic RFID tag and automatically generates multiple identification codes according to the segmentation situation. "User identification code" and "slaughter identification code" are registered in the data center and a corresponding relationship is established. The "User Identification Code" is marked on the label. The number of "user identification codes" is very large. Due to cost reasons, inorganic RFID tags cannot be used, and only two-dimensional barcodes or organic RFID tags can be used. At this time, there are no obvious advantages and disadvantages between 2D barcodes and organic RFID tags, and they can be chosen according to the user's habits.

2.6 Consumers

Consumers can query the product's "user identification code" through the public query system based on the user's two-dimensional barcode or organic RFID label provided by the supermarket. Supermarket information can be queried based on the "user identification code" and can be traced back to the "slaughter identification code". According to the "slaughter identification code", the transportation and storage information of the meat, the production information of the meat in the slaughterhouse can be queried, and the "production identification code" of the meat can be traced. The "production identification code" can be used to query livestock transportation and sales information, various information on the feeding process, etc. Consumers can trace the entire meat production process from the end product.

Various labeling technologies have specific applicability based on the characteristics and needs of different links in meat production.

3 Conclusion

Organic RFID tags have the advantages of convenience and ease of use of inorganic RFID tags, and have low costs similar to 2D barcodes. Although they are inferior to inorganic RFID in terms of reading speed, capacity and service life, they are still used in the application of animal food traceability processes. , these characteristics are not necessary for every link, which provides room for low-cost organic RFID tags to play a positive role.

The main links of the animal food safety traceability system include farms, transportation and logistics, slaughterhouses, logistics and warehousing, supermarkets and consumers. According to the characteristics of each link and its requirements for labeling technology, organic RFID is expected to be used in slaughterhouses, transportation and warehousing As an alternative to inorganic RFID, for animals that have been bred for a short time, organic RFID can also be used in the breeding and logistics transportation links, while organic RFID or two-dimensional tags can be selectively used in supermarkets. The use of organic RFID will greatly reduce the cost of animal food traceability, thereby promoting the widespread use of animal food traceability technology.