Dairyalong

Dairyalong is a proposed framework for end-to-end traceability of dairy products across the supply chain. The term combines dairy with along to emphasize tracking data from farm to consumer and through each intermediary stage.

Origin and scope: The concept emerged in the early 2020s within academic and industry discussions about food safety, transparency, and responsible sourcing. It has been described in scholarly work and explored in pilot projects by dairy cooperatives and technology providers as a holistic approach to collecting and sharing product data among multiple stakeholders.

Design and data model: Dairyalong envisions a shared data model that records batch identifiers, farm origin, processing steps, packaging, shipping conditions, and quality control results at each step. Data are intended to be stored in a tamper-evident ledger or distributed ledger-style system, with role-based access controls and privacy considerations. Interoperability relies on established identifiers (for example, GS1) and flexible data schemas (such as JSON-LD) to enable data exchange between different systems.

Applications and benefits: The framework aims to improve recall efficiency, verify product authenticity, monitor the cold chain, support sustainability accounting, and facilitate compliance with safety regulations. It is envisioned as a tool for regulators, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to access verifiable product provenance.

Limitations and status: Dairyalong is not a formal international standard. Adoption requires investments in digital infrastructure, governance agreements, and data-sharing trust among participants. Critics note potential privacy, data ownership, and scalability challenges, and current work remains largely exploratory or pilot-based.