GDST Announces First “GDST-Capable” Software

PRESS RELEASE
San Francisco (3 October 2022)

GDST ANNOUNCES FIRST SOFTWARE PRODUCTS TO ACHIEVE “GDST-CAPABLE” RECOGNITION  

 San Francisco, CA – October 18, 2022

In a significant step for the seafood industry, the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) announced today that three technology vendors and one seafood industry platform have developed the first software products to be verified as capable of fully implementing the GDST standards for interoperable digital traceability. The software solutions–independently developed by Mabel Systems, Trace Register, Wholechain, and Pacifical have successfully passed the GDST’s Capability Test, – a new online platform that allows businesses to verify whether software solutions can deliver on their promises of GDST compatibility.  Software products that pass this test are eligible to carry a new “GDST Capable” logo.

For more information about the GDST Capability Test and details about these first four verified solutions, click here.

“Availability of the first software solutions to earn the ‘GDST-Capable’ logo represents a major advancement for digital seafood traceability,” said Greg Brown, Executive Director of the GDST. “We now have a realistic way for industry to know if software is capable of fully implementing the GDST Standard.”  Noting that the Capability Test was released only a few months ago, Brown added, “It is exciting and encouraging that it has only taken a short time for vendors and industry groups to bring GDST-capable products to market.”

“As promoters of fully traceable sustainably caught tuna from the Pacific Island nations, we are proud to be the first supply chain organization in the entire seafood industry to be recognized as GDST capable,” said Cynthia Asaf, COO at Pacifical. “We look forward to transferring this ability to all our partners producing or sourcing fully verified sustainable Pacifical tuna, and encourage all industry members to join this effort in making interoperable seafood traceability a reality.”

Passing the Capability Test requires traceability software to demonstrate its ability to capture all data required by the GDST Standard, to receive and transmit data in the correct formats, and to use a standardized communications protocol. Software systems that meet these requirements can easily interface with one another to support full chain seafood traceability.  The release of the Capability Test is the first of several planned tools and tests that the GDST aims to develop to help stakeholders effectively measure implementation claims and progress towards GDST commitments.

“The seafood industry is truly global and standards like the GDST help everyone speak the same language. We choose to adopt the GDST standard in our solution to ensure our customers and their stakeholders can easily share product data to ease regulatory burden and continue to build trust with their consumers.” Said Gavin Andrews, Co-Founder & CEO at Mabel Systems.

“Mabel Systems, Trace Register, Wholechain, and Pacifical are the first to prove that they are listening to the seafood industry’s unambiguous demands for GDST capable technology,” said Brown.  “They are helping industry meet its commitments to traceability and the eradication of illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing.”

Heath England, President, Trace Register, Inc. agreed with the importance of the moment, saying, “Trace Register is proud that our TR5 platform is now GDST capable.  The GDST standard gives the global seafood industry a common language so all companies can push forward to full chain traceability in every supply chain. The interoperability that GDST brings will propel seafood to the next level of traceability.”

In addition to bearing the GDST-Capable logo, these software solutions will receive recognition on the GDST’s website, which will provide a single place for businesses to identify GDST-Capable solutions.

Jayson Berryhill of Wholechain is also excited about interoperability because of the opportunities for expanded integration with other systems.  “At Wholechain we believe traceability is foundational to achieving a more data-driven food system, and interoperability between traceability solutions is critical to that vision. The GDST Capability Test is an important step to validate that traceability systems are capable of using the standard, and it is unique throughout industry verticals to have such a detailed test of technical capabilities. We are excited to be among the first solution providers to complete the Capability Test and what this will enable for the seafood industry in the years ahead.

Media contact: info@traceability-dialogue.org
For a copy of this press release and other GDST news, click here.

 

Additional Background Information:About the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability
The GDST was organized in 2017 by WWF and the Institute of Food Technologists as an international, business-to-business platform to advance a unified framework for interoperable and verifiable seafood traceability. The GDST brings together companies from around the globe and across different parts of the seafood supply chain. In March 2020, after a multi-year industry-led drafting process, the GDST released the first-ever global standard governing information content and data formats specifically for seafood traceability systems. Learn more at www.traceability-dialogue.org or contact the GDST by email at info@traceability-dialogue.org.About Mabel Systems
Mabel Systems provides digital inventory and traceability solutions for the seafood industry. We help seafood businesses transition from paper-based processes to digital tools. Our system tracks seafood products from the ocean to consumers.  Each seafood business is different, so we provide a flexible and customizable solution. Our training and integration process ensures that each customer has the solution that fits their business: www.mabelsystems.comAbout Pacifical
Pacifical promotes the catch, production, and distribution of sustainably caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna from the Pacific Island nations.  Since 2013, Pacifical has enabled optimal exchange of tuna traceability and verification data by gathering all relevant fishing, production and distribution data from catch till final delivery of each individual end product.  With the aim to increase transparency and interoperability, the company engaged in a beta pilot in 2021 for the first-ever GDST testing tool designed to enable automatic computer-to-computer sharing of GDST-compatible data. On Oct 2022, Pacifical has successfully passed the capability test demonstrating the verified capability of its software to share its data according to the GDST framework.  Pacifical’s SmarTuna traceability system facilitates value chain visibility, certification, trade/commerce, insights and compliance to regulations: www.pacifical.comAbout Trace Register
Trace Register is the proven global seafood full-chain traceability leader serving clients in more than 50 countries for over 15 years. Its TR5 platform takes an unprecedented approach, utilizing cutting-edge technologies and industry standards such as GDST and GS1 to transform seafood supply chains. TR5 smart traceability enables members of the seafood ecosystem to integrate and use data from multiple sources and locations to build digital supply networks (DSNs) and create value by improving operations and supply chains. The results are fewer problems, higher margins, and more satisfied customers. Visit www.traceregister.com to learn more.

About Wholechain
Wholechain is a blockchain-based traceability solution built to enable trust, coordination, and transparency in fragmented supply chains. Wholechain works across commodities, allowing businesses to manage risks and increase efficiencies while enabling consumers to make more responsible decisions. Wholechain is part of numerous industry initiatives for interoperability including GS1’s Seafood Industry Blockchain Interoperability POC, and is a former winner of the Fish 2.0 Competition at Stanford for Supply Chain Innovation, and a winner of the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Food Traceability Challenge. Find out more at Wholechain.com.