Taiwan launches cloud traceability system for local tea
Taiwan unveiled an innovative traceability system that allows consumers to trace the source and production of a specific tea. The cloud-based initiative is aimed at boosting the quality and traceability of tea on the market, and to ensure correct labelling for organic and pesticide-free crops. The online platform currently stores information on 60 tons of tea and allows consumers to check a product's place of origin, manufacturer, pesticide test results, certificates and the flow and volume of each harvest. Four major tea manufacturers have subscribed thus far, as well as 200 small-scale farmers, but the organizers hope to have 1,000 tea farmers on board by year's end and half of Taiwan's 12,000 farmers by 2017.