Where Does Your Food Come From?

ORITAIN GLOBAL LIMITED

8 October 2008

Where Does Your Food Come From?

Global Conference to Provide Answers

As food safety grips current headlines, consumers continue to demand greater transparency in the food supply chain. In response to these complex issues, business and science are coming together at a global conference highlighting verification of origin and traceability. The GoTrace Conference will be held in Dunedin, June 2009. And, it’s already attracting international attention. Delegations from Europe, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand are expected.
Jennifer Anglin, Executive Director of GoTrace has announced that attendees will include representatives from the TRACE-EU programme. TRACE-EU is part of the 80 million euro project, "Promoting Excellence in Traceability in the European Union."

This project is responsible for developing technologies required for tracing and verifying food imported into the EU. Other delegates include key scientific researchers from the UK, USA and Australia – pioneers in the development of verification of origin, or provenancing, of food products; representatives from the US Department of Agriculture; and organisations involved in the development of novel RFID technologies. In addition to the science and regulatory aspects of the conference there will also be sessions on protection of brand equity and mitigating consumer concerns.

Dr. Helen Darling, Managing Director of Oritain Global and Platinum Sponsor cited two main reasons for bringing the conference to the Australasian region. Firstly, when attending the recent TRACE-EU conference as an official observer

``it was very obvious that this region of the world was not represented among the group most influential in policy and regulations which will effect exports from New Zealand and Australia; and, secondly, the perception is that verification of origin and traceability systems are expensive and difficult to implement – this is not always the case. Producers, exporters and consumers in this part of the world deserve the opportunity to see what options are available.’’

The conference is being organised by Aspen Global Markets and Oritain Global Ltd are a platinum sponsor.

ENDS

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