The perishables supply chain is a complex amalgam of producers, brokers, processors, logistics firms, wholesalers, distribution centers and retailers — and it’s facing unprecedented pressure. As the planet’s population grows, the industry struggles with rising complexity, regulation, data silos, ecosystem stress, and fraud.
Even in 2020, perishable imports continue to rely on paper records and fax machines, while in developed markets, data that could create significant efficiencies remains locked within disparate databases. And when foodborne illness triggers a recall, the forensic research required to identify and stop sickness takes weeks or even months.
Simply, this is a data problem.
The system is handcuffed by its own economics and risk aversion. Razor-thin margins discourage innovations that would lead to radical efficiencies. In the meantime, the outdated data environment contributes to us sending $1T of perishable food alone directly from farms to landfills.
Four data improvements would create vast efficiencies that would reduce waste as well as billions of dollars in financial, reputational and health risk: 1) gathering more granular data, more economically; 2) connecting the disparate systems that store that data; 3) sharing this real-time data with all supply chain participants; and 4) operationalizing the data via AI.
This is the Transparent Path opportunity.
Our vision
To create the most trusted, transparent and collaborative supply chain platform.
We are a team of commercial, operational and technology executives who care deeply about reducing waste, risk, and insecurity.
Active in food- and health-related causes in our community, we are driven to bring our skills, experience, passion and focus to this issue, to scale our collective impact to feed a growing planet, more safely and more efficiently.
Our values
FACT-FOCUSED
You can’t make good decisions with bad data. We want the truth — warts and all.
ACCOUNTABLE
We do our best to keep our commmitments and own our issues and actions.
ETHICAL
We believe in transparency and strive to always observe ethical business practices.
ACT AS A TEAM
Our success rests on scaling our strengths together, not separately.
SUSTAINABLE
We believe the UN Sustainable Development Goals are critical to the future of food.
STANDARDIZED
We believe in the importance of interoperability and adhere to the GS1 data standards.
SECURE
Protecting and securing our customers’ data is critical to our success.
COLLABORATIVE
We will achieve our mission through cooperation, shared standards and successes.
We got our start during 2018’s awkward “blockchain for food” phase. Our original goal was to provide better traceability during recalls. But within a few months, we realized the opportunity — and the need — was much, much larger.
Blockchain is only one tool of several —and traceability is only one feature of several — that are needed to create a more trusted, transparent supply chain. We needed to think bigger.
Visibility requires more than just blockchain.
Meet the Transparent Path Team
