Consumers are increasingly demanding that the food they buy can be traced back to its origin.
Thanks to advanced technology, millions of consumers can rest assured that if it’s Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef they want, that’s what they’ll get.
Oritain and HCC Welsh Lamb
Oritain’s technology analyses trace elements and isotopes which animals absorb from their natural environment and the grass and water that they consume, to establish a distinctive Welsh ‘fingerprint of origin’. Its techniques are highly-respected in a variety of industries, including food, textiles and pharmaceuticals.
The work, commencing in 2018, has meant that lamb can be tested at any point in the supply chain and can be scientifically verified that it came from an animal reared in Wales. Of course, Welsh Lamb already has an excellent reputation for traceability among consumers thanks to the PGI scheme, administered in conjunction with NSF Certification, but the agreement with Oritain ensures that the Welsh Lamb brand has the ultimate in robust product traceability.
After the success of the award-winning programme with Welsh Lamb, another project between HCC and Oritain was announced in May 2021. Welsh Beef will also be tested as part of this work, providing an extra layer of reassurance to an already strong system of traceability from farm to fork.
Gwyn Howells, HCC Chief Executive, said: “Since we took the bold step of working with Oritain to provide an extra layer of scientific assurance to our strong system of traceability for Welsh Lamb—the first PGI meat product to take this step—we’ve been delighted with the results. They have proved that our supply chain has an exceptionally high degree of integrity, and our combined efforts were recognised with a top food technology award in 2019.
“Now we’re proud to take the next step and expand this work to include Welsh Beef as well as Welsh Lamb. This system, which is simpler than DNA testing and doesn’t rely on barcodes or labels, will give the ultimate reassurance to clients at home and abroad. If it’s high-quality, sustainable Welsh meat you want, that’s what you’ll get.”
Oritain CEO, Grant Cochrane, said:
“HCC has always been a progressive, forward thinking organisation. We can see this in their PGI status, the work they do in-market raising awareness of Welsh meat, and with their emphasis on quality and authenticity. That’s why they joined forces with us back in 2018 and why they are now expanding this work to include Welsh Beef. They are truly valued by Oritain and we love seeing them continue to grow from strength to strength.”
If you’d like to hear more about this work, click here to watch a recording of our webinar with Oritain, held in May 2021, which explains the technology and the benefits to the industry in more detail.
Fore more information about Oritain, visit their website: https://oritain.com/
