Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Assessing the benefits of traceability system to the Omani seafood industries

International Conference on Food Safety and Regulatory Measures

August 17-19, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Mohammed H AlRizeiqi, V Hargaden and P P Walsh

University College Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Traceability system for Omani seafood industries are assessed for the process design, compliance to seafood law, qualitative and quantitative cost benefit analysis CAB. The selected industries are the largest in term of supply, process, employment and value. The increased prevelance of food scandals in the recent years has led to increased attention on food traceability to find ways to protect human, animal health and avoid adulteration. An infected/contaminated product recall and market withdraw are costly for firms and governmental reputation. Safe seafood becomes a major choice for many consumers around the globe. Under such circumstances, a seafood traceability system can be an innovative method to develop consumerâ??s confidence in the fisheries products. However, the economical benefits of a traceability system is still not clear for producers, distributors, retailers and policy in many newly developing emerged markets. Oman is rich in fisheries resources. The country has around 3,165 km long coastline with an exclusive economic zone area of 300,000 km2 from Strait of Hormuz in the North (Governorate of Musandam) to the border with Republic of Yemen in the South (Governorate of Dhofar). The annual fish export was in the range of 120 thousand metric tons of fish and seafood. The country has entered to the valued EU markets since 1986. In the last ten years, the country lost most of its share in the European market due to many legal and technical issues in the process value chain. However, the study is useful for practitioner, businesses and policy makers regarding the perceived benefits of traceability in the Omani fish supply chain. The Net Present Value NPV is calculated for Oman Fisheries Co. and the value indicates a wider benefit from the implementation of integrated traceability system. Seafood traceability is analyzed using both statistical and financial tool models. The Net Present Value (NPV) was calculated for 5 and 10 years traceability Implementation. The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) was calculated based on the 2% discount rate (r=2%) for the 10 years period of implementation. Both qualitative and quantitative results showed an extra impact of traceability to the export of fisheries product from Oman to the EU markets.

Biography :

Mohammed H AlRizeiqi is a PhD candidate of Food Process Policy, Global Development at University College Dublin, Ireland. His project title is: “development of process value chain to the seafood industries in Oman: The analysis of current seafood process value chain and the economic impact of developing process supply chain to the seafood industries in Oman”. Mohammed is currently assessing the benefits of implementing a traceability system to the export of seafood products from Oman. Mohammed main research interests include: Food and Beverage Process Value Chain, Food economic analysis, Food Policy and Regulations and Global Human Development.

Email: ruzeiki3@gmail.com