Agriful, a software provider specialising in order, inventory, and traceability management for the produce sector, has announced a strategic partnership with Starfish, a technology company offering a neutral data-sharing layer for food supply chains. The collaboration aims to enhance interoperability and support regulatory compliance across fresh produce supply chains by enabling seamless sharing of traceability data without requiring changes to existing internal systems.
According to the companies, Agriful’s platform will integrate with Starfish’s network to facilitate the secure exchange of critical traceability information—known as Key Data Elements (KDEs) and Critical Tracking Events (CTEs)—in line with the GS1 EPCIS standards. This integration is designed to help users comply with section 204 of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a U.S. regulatory requirement that mandates more robust traceability to enable faster responses to food safety incidents.
Patrick Crowley, CEO of Agriful, stated that the partnership extends the value of Agriful’s platform by enabling users to share vital data with buyers, suppliers, and regulators in a secure, standardised manner. Meanwhile, Starfish CEO Wiggs Civitillo described the collaboration as a way to make traceability and compliance “more accessible and powerful” through the combination of their data-sharing network and Agriful’s operational platform.
The partnership reflects a broader industry trend emphasizing transparency, connection, and resilience in food supply chains, as companies face mounting regulatory and market pressures for traceability. Other recent collaborations, such as those between Starfish and quality data platform Agritrack or digitisation firm OpsSmart, similarly seek to bridge gaps between data collection and interoperable sharing to support compliance with regulations like the EU’s Deforestation Regulation and Fisheries Control Regulation, as well as the FSMA.
Starfish’s platform plays a pivotal role by harmonising data from diverse sources across the supply chain—ranging from farms to manufacturers and retailers—and translating it into standardised formats that enable secure, real-time collaboration. This capability is increasingly critical as companies approach the January 2026 deadline for FSMA 204 compliance, which requires maintainable and accessible traceability records to facilitate effective recalls.
Industry efforts to prepare for these regulatory demands have also involved coalitions formed to raise awareness and provide resources, highlighting the complexity and urgency of establishing interoperable tracking systems. Starfish’s growing ecosystem, which includes partners such as IBM Food Trust and atma.io, aims to foster trust and transparency across global supply chains through collaborative data sharing.
While the Agriful-Starfish partnership is positioned as a significant step towards more integrated and compliant produce supply chains, the true test will be in adoption rates across the sector and the ability to integrate with diverse legacy systems. Nonetheless, initiatives like this signal an ongoing shift towards technologically driven supply chain transparency that regulators and consumers increasingly expect.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
