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Identity Preserve of Agricultural Crops
At the high level, such as an agricultural ministry, a sophisticated application can be implemented by making all farm field parcels spatial objects within the ArcGIS/ArcGIS Server geodata model. This type of GIS implementation is able to maintain every transaction on each parcel, warehousing metadata, and other critical data needs required for future certification of GMO compliance regulations. An example would be a 40-hectare tract of corn. Assume it is a new corn variety, that has been genetically modified. The farm operator has chosen a GMO corn variety because his/her yields will increase by 25 percent, and the corn will be used to feed pigs. This crop input field data is archived in the GIS spatially using a polygon that begins the geoaccounting traceability functionality.
By knowing the location of the crop throughout the food supply chain, manufacturers can benefit from being able to assure consumers as to the legacy of any particular product either via food labeling or more interactive technologies in-store. |
Identity Preserve is one of the fastest growing segments in agriculture and is being driven by new discoveries in biotechnology. Genetic engineering is creating crops with favorable new traits by artificially modifying plant genes. These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) impact the entire food industry. Food processors and consumers need to know whether GMO food products are being processed or consumed. In answer to these concerns Identity Preserve (IP) describes the action of tracking the agricultural products from the farm field to the grocery store shelf and indicates what these food products contain in relation to GMOs. Geoaccounting applications of Identity Preserve have demonstrated a significant benefit to agribusiness. Geoaccounting is a method to record crop input operations spatially and warehouse in a database for future reference.
The mechanics of engineering a GIS solution from the farm field to the grocery store shelf is complex, but the 
Once the metadata and learned object behavior (geoaccounting) is in place at the farm parcel level, the geoaccounting of the GMOs shifts to the nonspatial, supply chain business process models. These supply chain models need to be spatially enabled. The crop is removed from the farm field, and the product becomes a point feature within the supply chain. This point is still a spatial representation of the GMO or non-GMO commodity in the food supply chain. The collection of this information can be done at the field level by using ArcPad. The crop now leaves the farm field and begins its transport through the supply chain by truck to the local grain elevator for storage, then by barge, then by shipping container, then by multiple shipping vessels to processing plants and then distributed as value-added food products (e.g., wheat grain processed into flour) to the grocery store shelf. Tracking this movement can be assisted greatly by the implementation of an ArcIMS/ArcGIS solution. Segregating the GMO from the non-GMO products will, over time, be certified on the food label, and will satisfy growing consumer concerns regarding the health implication of GMO products. By using GIS, the crop's identity can be tracked or traced throughout the supply chain by GPS, bar code, passive infrared sensor, or other inexpensive technologies. The crop, whether GMO or not, always has a location value—from the farm, through the transportation of the commodity, to the grocery store shelf. Using the powerful network features of ArcGIS lets the agribusiness or agricultural government agency manage the identity of the commodities throught the food supply chain.