Data Capture

Traceability begins with accurate and consistent data collection. In beef and leather supply chains, where products often cross multiple borders, pass through many hands, and undergo several transformations, the ability to reliably trace an item back through its journey depends on capturing information at each step. Data collection ensures that products can be verified against regulatory and food safety requirements, certification schemes, and consumer expectations for transparency and sustainability.

Within this framework, data collection is not a one-time activity but a continuous process that aligns with the flow of goods and transformations throughout the supply chain.

Roles and Responsibilities

A foundational principle of this framework is that each supply chain actor is responsible for collecting the data associated with the CTEs they perform. This ensures accuracy and accountability, as the information is recorded at the source rather than being passed along secondhand.

The examples below illustrate the types of responsibilities commonly associated with different supply chain roles. In practice, many companies occupy multiple roles. For example, a producer may manage a cow-calf operation and a fattening farm or a retailer may also serve as a distributor. In such cases, actors are responsible for recording the data relevant to all of the roles they perform.

By distributing responsibility in this way, no single actor bears the burden of collecting the entire supply chain’s data. Instead, each contributes their portion, creating a continuous and verifiable chain of events.