Thus, digital transformation is crucial for the agrifood supply chain, as it enables visibility in the supply chain, forming the bedrock for the role of AI and data analytics to create a more sustainable future for food.
The Need for Digital Transformation in the Agrifood Supply Chain
The agrifood supply chain is a complex network that involves numerous stakeholders – from farmers and producers to distributors, retailers, and consumers. Traditionally, this chain has been managed using analog methods that are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often fraught with inefficiencies. The lack of real-time information sharing and visibility across the entire supply chain results in problems such as overproduction, underutilized resources, food waste, and limited traceability. This is where digital transformation steps in.
From Analog to Digital: Breaking Down Data Silos with Digitization
One of the primary challenges faced by the agrifood supply chain is the existence of data silos. Information is often trapped within individual stages of the chain, preventing seamless communication and collaboration.
What makes these data silos even more challenging to resolve is that much of this data exists in pen-and-paper format, even for large companies managing millions of dollars and thousands of products in their daily operations.
Above: Pen and paper are still being used to do quality check in many produce packinghouses today.
Additionally, companies often invest in additional manpower, time and resources to do additional sorting pre and post-shipment, just to reduce the possibility of facing rejections and quality issues further down the supply chain.
Above: Often, additional manpower is repeatedly deployed to check the quality of items such as fresh produce multiple times along the chain, often in a manual and time-consuming manner.
Thus, to have supply chain visibility, we must first digitize the analog to the digital, transforming operational processes in such a way that recording such data in the digital world is applicable, scalable and operational.
DiMuto’s QR code labels quickly creates a digital twin of each product and carton, allowing production and supply chain captured via our ecosystem of mobile app and web platform to be efficiently tagged to the digital twin of said product and carton.
DiMuto’s QR Label can also be automatically integrated into existing barcode labels, eliminating duplicate labels, and printed on the spot for ease of use.
DiMuto’s Digital Transformation solution captures end to end data in one single platform.Read more here.
Enabling Supply Chain Visibility in One Platform
Supply chain visibility is the cornerstone of an effective and efficient agrifood supply chain. With digitization, stakeholders gain access to real-time data regarding the status of products, from farm to fork. Digital transformation involves the integration of technologies like IoT (Internet of Things) devices, sensors, and blockchain to gather and share data across all stages of the supply chain. This real-time data sharing not only enhances visibility but also enables quick decision-making, reduces waste, and improves overall efficiency.
However, even when data is digital and processes are digitalized, another challenge is that there is currently no one solution that can do it all in the market. There are a multitude of specialized software tackling one part of the supply chain or specific activities, and no one software solution that can connect all the dots. DiMuto is designed specifically to solve this, providing the different stakeholders the option of manually uploading, or integrating with the different existing solutions in use by supply chain players. This helps create a complete picture of the supply chain data, creating true supply chain visibility.
Benefits for Agrifood Businesses
For agrifood businesses, the benefits of embracing digital transformation are far-reaching. The newfound supply chain visibility provided by digitization allows for proactive decision-making and improved resource allocation. Growers can fine-tune their planting and harvesting schedules based on real-time data, minimizing the risk of crop losses due to unforeseen weather events or disease outbreaks. Traders, Importers, and Exporters can streamline their operations by having precise knowledge of incoming shipments, enabling better production planning and reducing waste. Retailers can optimize inventory management, preventing stockouts and reducing excess inventory costs. Moreover, the ability to provide consumers with detailed information about the journey of their food enhances brand reputation and consumer loyalty. Ultimately, agrifood businesses that embrace digital transformation position themselves as leaders in sustainability, efficiency, and innovation, driving growth and success in an increasingly competitive market.
The Role of AI and Data Analytics
As data flows freely through the digitized agrifood supply chain, AI and data analytics step in to make sense of the massive datasets generated. AI algorithms can predict crop yields, optimize transportation routes, and even foresee potential disruptions. Advanced analytics provide insights into consumer preferences, helping farmers tailor their production to meet market demands. Additionally, AI-powered demand forecasting minimizes food waste by ensuring that the right amount of produce is grown and distributed.
Creating a digitally transformed food supply chain allows for positive feedback loops where Data Analytics and AI can be applied for sustainability and efficiency
Paving the Way for Sustainable Food Systems
A significant motivation for embracing digital transformation in the agrifood sector is the pursuit of sustainability. With accurate data and insights, stakeholders can adopt precision agriculture practices that minimize the use of resources like water, pesticides, and fertilizers. By preventing overproduction and enhancing distribution efficiency, digital technologies play a crucial role in reducing food waste. Ultimately, a more sustainable food system emerges, contributing to environmental conservation and social responsibility.
The agrifood supply chain urgently needs to transition from analog to digital solutions to enhance visibility, efficiency, and sustainability. Breaking down data silos and adopting technologies like IoT, sensors, and blockchain gives real-time insights to empower stakeholders to make informed decisions. AI and data analytics optimize the system’s efficiency to meet the challenges of a growing global population and increasing environmental concerns.
A Need For Digital Transformation Of Agrifood Supply Chain
In the face of a growing global population and the intricacies of the agrifood supply chain, digital transformation has become a necessity rather than a luxury. The shift from traditional methods to digitalization and automation is vital to enhance efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. By digitizing operations and breaking down data silos, real-time communication and collaboration among stakeholders can be achieved. QR code labels and digital twins, exemplified by DiMuto, facilitate supply chain visibility and data capture from production to distribution. Incorporating technologies like IoT, sensors, and blockchain enables informed decision-making, waste reduction, and increased efficiency. AI and data analytics further contribute by predicting yields, optimizing routes, and tailoring production. Sustainability is a driving force behind this transformation, allowing resource conservation and waste reduction, ultimately leading to a more sustainable food system with environmental and social benefits.
The trade of fresh produce across borders is crucial for meeting global food demand and providing consumers with a diverse range of fruits and vegetables year-round. However, quality claims often lead to disputes between trading partners. Technological advancements and collaborative practices can facilitate supply chain visibility and reduce these disputes. By ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the supply chain, stakeholders can proactively address issues, foster trust, and ultimately enhance the efficiency and harmony of cross-border fresh produce trade.
Challenges in Cross-Border Fresh Produce Trade
Fresh produce trade across borders involves many intermediaries, complex logistics, and varying regulations. These complexities create opportunities for quality-related disputes to arise. Challenges include discrepancies in product quality upon arrival, differing interpretations of quality standards, and difficulties in tracing the origin of quality issues. Such disputes disrupt trade flows and strain relationships between trading partners, eroding confidence in the supply chain.
The Role of Supply Chain Visibility
Supply chain visibility refers to the real-time tracking and monitoring of goods as they move through the supply chain. This involves collecting and sharing data at every stage, from cultivation and harvesting to transportation and distribution. When applied to cross-border fresh produce trade, supply chain visibility can offer several key benefits:
Implementing technologies like blockchain can create an immutable record of each step in the supply chain. This traceability enhances accountability by making it easier to identify the source of quality discrepancies, thereby reducing disputes about responsibility.
Supply chain visibility promotes adherence to international quality standards by providing a consistent framework for quality assessment. Trading partners can access standardized data to evaluate product quality, reducing subjective interpretations.
Visual Documentation: Enhancing Accountability and Transparency
Before products are shipped, visual pictures of the produce’s quality can serve as a baseline reference for both the exporter and the importer. These images capture the state of the produce at the time of packaging, providing evidence of its quality, size, color, and condition. In the event of a quality dispute, pre-shipment images act as an objective record against which the post-shipment condition can be compared.
Upon the arrival of the fresh produce at its destination, visual images of the actual condition can be compared to the pre-shipment images. Any discrepancies, such as signs of deterioration, bruising, or other quality issues, become immediately apparent. This visual evidence makes it easier to assess whether any deterioration occurred during transit or due to mishandling.
Being able to track the pre-shipment and post-shipment quality efficiently and reliably is also key, which can be achieved through product traceability and digitization with QR codes and image-capturing devices at critical supply chain points.
In case of a quality dispute, having visual proof readily available streamlines the resolution process. Rather than relying solely on written descriptions, stakeholders can refer to the images to evaluate the extent of the issue.
Access to comprehensive supply chain data empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions. Producers, distributors, and retailers can collaborate based on accurate insights, aligning expectations and reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings.
Enhanced visibility fosters open communication between trading partners. By sharing real-time data, concerns can be addressed promptly, and solutions can be developed collaboratively. Learn more about DiMuto’s solutions – we help AgriFood companies with Digital Transformation, unifying products, documents and payments all in one single platform for supply chain visibility. See our Product Sheet here and read a case study of how we helped solve quality disputes here.
Supply chain visibility holds the key to reducing trade disputes over quality claims in cross-border fresh produce trade. By providing transparency, traceability, and data-driven decision-making capabilities, stakeholders can enhance the efficiency of the supply chain and foster stronger partnerships. As the world continues to rely on cross-border trade to meet food demands, embracing supply chain visibility can contribute to a more harmonious and reliable global fresh produce trade ecosystem.
A Need For Digital Transformation of Agrifood Supply Chain
In the face of a growing global population and the intricacies of the agrifood supply chain, digital transformation has become a necessity rather than a luxury. The shift from traditional methods to digitalization and automation is vital to enhance efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. By digitizing operations and breaking down data silos, real-time communication and collaboration among stakeholders can be achieved. QR code labels and digital twins, exemplified by DiMuto, facilitate supply chain visibility and data capture from production to distribution. Incorporating technologies like IoT, sensors, and blockchain enables informed decision-making, waste reduction, and increased efficiency. AI and data analytics further contribute by predicting yields, optimizing routes, and tailoring production. Sustainability is a driving force behind this transformation, allowing resource conservation and waste reduction, ultimately leading to a more sustainable food system with environmental and social benefits.
Food safety is of paramount importance to public health and consumer confidence. In response to the growing concerns over foodborne illnesses and contamination incidents, the United States Congress passed the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in 2011. This landmark legislation aimed to revolutionize the nation’s food safety system by shifting the focus from reactive measures to proactive prevention.
The FDA’s Food Traceability Final Rule establishes new traceability recordkeeping requirements for certain foods on the Food Traceability List (FTL). It applies to those involved in manufacturing, processing, packing, or holding these foods and aims to implement Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The rule requires maintaining records with Key Data Elements (KDEs) related to Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and providing information to the FDA within 24 hours or an agreed reasonable time.
Key provisions of the final rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods (Food Traceability Final Rule) establishes traceability recordkeeping requirements, beyond those in existing regulations, it includes:
Identification of Critical Tracking Events (CTEs): The rule identified specific points in the supply chain that are crucial for tracing the movement of food products. These CTEs could include growing, receiving, transforming, creating, and shipping events, depending on the type of food and its production process.
Traceability Data Elements: The FDA specified the information that food facilities would be required to capture and maintain for each CTE. These data elements included information about the food product, its packaging, the facility, and the immediate previous source and subsequent recipient in the supply chain.
Recordkeeping Requirements: The proposed rule mandated that the responsible parties in the supply chain maintain accurate and accessible records related to the identified CTEs. This was crucial for facilitating rapid and accurate tracebacks during foodborne illness outbreaks or contamination events.
Applicability: The rule focused on certain foods that were identified as having a higher risk of causing foodborne illness, such as leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and shell eggs. The scope was intended to cover both domestically produced and imported food products.
The goal is to enable faster identification and removal of potentially contaminated food, reducing foodborne illnesses and deaths. The rule aligns with industry best practices and covers both domestic and foreign firms in the food supply chain. All entities subject to the rule must comply by January 20, 2026.
DiMuto is a company that specializes in providing digital solutions for supply chain traceability and visibility in the AgriFood industry. With the introduction of the United States Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the FDA’s Food Traceability Final Rule, AgriFood companies need to comply with new traceability recordkeeping requirements to ensure food safety and meet regulatory standards. DiMuto can play a crucial role in helping these companies achieve compliance with the Food Traceability Final Rule in the following ways:
1. Digitized Traceability:
DiMuto offers a digital platform that allows AgriFood companies to capture and store traceability data elements as required by the rule. The platform can efficiently record critical tracking events (CTEs) in the supply chain, such as growing, receiving, transforming, creating, and shipping events. This digitization ensures accurate and accessible records are maintained for each CTE, making it easier for companies to demonstrate compliance during audits and inspections. All this information is recorded and automatically collated for every single product order and carton on the platform, linking to unique QR codes on each carton.
2. Data Management:
The platform provided by DiMuto can manage and store traceability data in a centralized system. This helps companies maintain accurate and up-to-date records, which is essential for facilitating rapid and accurate tracebacks in the event of foodborne illness outbreaks or contamination incidents. The ability to quickly identify the source of potentially contaminated food is critical for preventing the spread of illnesses and removing unsafe products from the market. With our Quick Scan, you can know the supply chain movement for each carton easily.
3. Automated Reporting:
DiMuto’s digital solution can generate automated reports, allowing companies to provide the required information to the FDA within 24 hours or an agreed reasonable time, as mandated by the Food Traceability Final Rule. The platform streamlines the reporting process, reducing manual efforts and ensuring timely compliance. Simply click to download the report PDF on our Platform and it will be sent to the relevant email.
4. Specific Food Focus:
With SKU categories, DiMuto’s platform can be customized to focus on certain foods identified in the rule as having a higher risk of causing foodborne illnesses, such as leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and shell eggs. This flexibility allows companies to tailor their traceability efforts to meet the specific requirements for these high-risk food products, and can better monitor Quality Standards with our Inspection Management.
5. Global Supply Chain Coverage:
The Food Traceability Final Rule covers both domestically produced and imported food products. DiMuto’s Platform is capable of supporting supply chains of domestic and foreign firms, ensuring that all entities involved in the food supply chain can comply with the regulations.
6. Real-time Visibility:
DiMuto’s platform provides real-time visibility into the supply chain, enabling companies to track the movement of food products from farm to fork. This visibility enhances transparency and accountability in the supply chain, further contributing to food safety and compliance with the FSMA regulations.
Overall, DiMuto’s digital traceability and supply chain visibility solutions can greatly assist AgriFood companies in complying with the Food Traceability Final Rule. By streamlining recordkeeping, automating reporting, and providing real-time visibility, DiMuto helps enhance food safety, reduce foodborne illnesses, and ensure regulatory compliance.
We are thrilled to announce an exciting transformation at DiMuto!
After months of introspection and careful consideration, we have embarked on a journey of rebranding to better serve our customers and meet the evolving needs of our industry.
In our relentless pursuit of excellence, we realized that change is not only inevitable but essential for growth and progress. Our rebranding is driven by a desire to stay at the forefront of innovation, deepen our connection with customers, and create a lasting impact in our ever-changing world. With this rebrand, we are embracing a fresh identity that reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional value and experiences.
We want to emphasize that while our outward appearance may change, our core values and dedication to our customers’ success remain unwavering.
Why rebrand?
DiMuto has undergone a remarkable transformation since its inception as a pure blockchain technology company. Initially, our focus was on building the foundational blocks of data, which is symbolized by the letter ‘D’ in our iconic logo. This ‘D’ also represents the trust and traceability that a blockchain company brings to the table, ensuring transparency and reliability in every transaction.
However, as we progressed and expanded our horizons, our vision expanded beyond technology alone. We recognized the need to provide comprehensive solutions that address the challenges faced by growers, exporters, and importers in the trade industry. Today, we are proud to offer a range of services that encompasses product, trade, and financial services.
Our commitment to empowering businesses led us to develop an end-to-end platform, giving the Ag and Food value chain of players from food producers, through to logistics and value add packaging, and through to retailers a “farm to fork” visibility. With this platform, AgriFood businesses can now gain a comprehensive understanding of the journey their products undertake, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize their trading processes.
In addition to our core platform, we have expanded our offerings to include a Marketplace and Financial services. The circular ‘D’ icon in our new branding represents this complete ecosystem of services, providing Agri businesses with all the tools and support required for successful trades. Whether they need a secure marketplace to connect with potential buyers and sellers or financial services tailored to their unique requirements, we have it covered.
Through our Marketplace, AgriFood businesses can discover new opportunities, expand their network, and engage in seamless trade transactions with trusted partners. Meanwhile, our Financial Services offer tailored solutions that facilitate smooth transactions, mitigate risks and ensure optimal liquidity throughout the trade cycle.
This rebranding represents our evolution from a technology-driven company to a holistic solution provider. While our blockchain roots remain embedded in our DNA, our new brand identity reflects our commitment to delivering comprehensive, end-to-end services that enable you to thrive in the dynamic world of trade.
At DiMuto, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. We will continue to innovate, collaborate, and empower businesses like yours to reach new heights of success. Together, let’s embrace the power of visibility and unlock the full potential of global AgriTrade endeavors.
Welcome to the new DiMuto – a trusted partner for seamless, transparent, and profitable trading.
What does the new logo mean?
DiMuto redefines global AgriTrade with our end-to-end 360-degree service, this is reflected in our new branding. Our DiMuto ‘D’ icon is made from an endless mobius loop representing our seamless blockchain. The natural and fresh colorway of blue and green highlights our connection with agriculture and nature. The typography of the DiMuto wordmark is clean and modern, and the two capital letters highlight the origin and uniqueness of our name.
The new visual identity introduced today is a foundation that better communicates what DiMuto does.
Our brand story
DiMuto was founded by Gary Loh after a decade of running a global fruit & vegetable company. Frustrated with the way global food trade was conducted he decided things need to change for the better. DiMuto aims to solve the global issue of food resilience and supply chain inefficiencies. From traders for traders, we want to help AgriFood business owners optimize their operations efficiently and for them to build a foundation of trust between their buyers or sellers so that they can take action on improving and growing their businesses.
Our team has grown from strength to strength powering agri-trading globally via our Singapore hub. Our offer supports every aspect of Agri-Food trading, redefining the way goods are managed from farm to table, seamlessly and simply connecting every step and making it visible throughout.
We look forward to sharing this exciting new chapter with you as we shape the future of our industry!
[Whitepaper]
Discover the future of financial services in the AgriTrade industry with the groundbreaking white paper by Dimuto. Gain valuable insights into the transformative potential of DiMuto Financial Services and its impact on businesses in the global agricultural trade.
Explore the comprehensive analysis and in-depth research presented in the white paper, which delves into the challenges faced by businesses in managing their finances and unlocking growth opportunities. Learn how Dimuto’s innovative financial solutions empower companies to optimize cash flow, secure financing, and navigate the competitive market landscape.
Download the white paper today to gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s evolving financial landscape and explore the cutting-edge solutions that can help drive your business forward. Discover how DiMuto Financial Services is revolutionizing financial management and enabling businesses to thrive in the AgriTrade sector.
Don’t miss out on this invaluable resource. Download the white paper now and embark on a transformative journey towards financial success and growth. To read more about the new wave of commerce, download the DiMuto Whitepaper here.
DiMuto is an A.I.-driven AgriFood Trade Solutions redefining global Agri Trade. With its three pillars of Marketplace, Trade Management, and Trade Financing, DiMuto powers global AgriFood Trade with data visibility and financing.
DiMuto simplifies every step of global trade – from produce, trade to market, DiMuto provides sales, marketing, operations, financing, and insurance tools so agribusinesses can get the data visibility they need to trade better and grow greater.
With DiMuto’s ability to capture AgriFood trades, make them visible and monetize them on a single platform, we create a more efficient, transparent, and measurable ecosystem of sustainable global AgriFood trade.
With Visible Trade, DiMuto powers companies and the world forward with confidence.
Since 2019, DiMuto has successfully tracked and traced over millions of pieces in produce and millions in dollars of trade value on our platform, working with a global portfolio of clients in over ten countries and five continents. DiMuto is founded by Chief Executive Officer Mr Gary Loh, who is also the Executive Chairman of First Alverstone Group.
We have prepared a comprehensive Investor One Pager provides valuable insights into how different stakeholders, including businesses, investors, buyers, sellers, consumers, and communities, can benefit from our global presence, market activities, and the transformative services we offer. It showcases our commitment to creating shared value and driving positive change in the global AgriFood supply chain.
Download the DiMuto One Pager here.
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