Blog: Your Digital Grain Passport FAQs answered

It was great to see so many from across industry attend our webinars and see first hand how the Digital Grain Passport system could work. We had some really positive feedback and the sessions generated some interesting questions and things for us to think about. For the benefit of those who couldn’t attend, I thought it would be worthwhile me addressing some of the most asked questions about the new system.

How will data be captured at the collection point?

The intention is that the system will be flexible and provide users with choice. Firstly, the majority of passport data can be completed before collection. Growers and storekeepers will have opportunity to complete passports, with the exception of the vehicle hygiene declarations, as soon as they are allocated to the passport by merchants. For any data left to be entered at the collection point, this can be done on a desktop or laptop computer if one is available in the grainstore office, or if the farm office is close to the loading point. Alternatively, a mobile phone or tablet could be used.

Will the system work without Wi-Fi or mobile data signal?

Yes, the system will have functionality allowing data to be entered off-line, or where there is no mobile data connection. The data would be held on the device until mobile data signal or Wi-Fi is available. If data is entered offline, it will be held on the device until such a time as a connection is found at which point the system will automatically submit it to the central database, and it will be visible to the rest of the supply chain.

I move a lot of grain, will the system be efficient to use?

The system will be as efficient to use as possible, for all scales of business. It’s important that in addition to allowing passports to be created or edited one at a time, for key actions in the process it will be possible to ‘batch process’ passports. For example, where a merchant is setting up multiple loads moving the same crop from the same grower or store to the same processor or store, then multiple identical passports can be created in one go. In the same way, for a grower receiving multiple identical passports for completion, these can be completed in one go, with the exception of the vehicle hygiene declarations. This will make the process far more efficient than having the duplication of filling out separate paper passports for each load.

Will a digital grain passport mean duplicating work which I already do in my software?

An important function of the Digital Grain Passport will be systems integration, meaning that data is exchanged between software you already use and the Digital Grain Passport automatically. This will be an important route for businesses handling significant quantities of grain. In choosing this option, instead of duplicating data entry or performing actions in both your software and in the Digital Grain Passport, data will be exchanged between systems, thus reducing duplication.

How will the transition from paper to digital work?

It’s intended that there will be a transition period of at least two years. Within this period, it will be up to businesses across supply chains to determine their transition strategy in discussion with other businesses they trade with. Individual supply chains will be able to choose when they start using digital passports, how long businesses have a choice of whether to use paper or digital, and then when to stop using paper passports all together.

Will the system accommodate rejected loads?

The short answer is yes. There are a whole range of follow-on actions stemming from a load being rejected, such as redirecting to a different processor, returning the load to the grower or store it came from, or accepting the load at the original processor under different terms. We will work with industry to make sure the Digital Grain Passport can accommodate all of these.

If you missed the webinars but would like to see a demonstration of the Digital Grain Passport prototype, I recorded a video demonstration with Alice Blatchford, the AHDB Product Owner for the Digital Grain Passport, which you can view on the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds YouTube channel.

Ultimately, your feedback is vital in deciding whether industry takes this forward and moves to a Digital Grain Passport system. Trade associations are gathering feedback from their members ahead of a meeting on 17 November when a decision on the future of the project will be made. You can find details of the trade associations involved, as well as a wealth of information on the Digital Grain Passport, on our dedicated webpages. If you are not a member of one of the Trade Associations listed, feel free to get in touch with me to give your feedback.