On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the official launch of the new QR code and nutritional labeling programmes was held at the Finance Administrative Centre at Pointe Seraphine, ushering in a major achievement in the island’s agricultural sector.
The initiative falls under the “Enhancing the Efficiency of Production-Distribution Supply Chain of Fruit and Vegetable Supply Sector (Phase Two)” project, commonly known as the “Seven Crops Project”.
The QR code programme was sponsored by the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) and is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, Taiwan Technical Mission, and Massy Stores.
Customers can use their smartphones and scan the QR codes displayed on the products at Massy Stores and instantly be provided with a wealth of information, including product details, origin, what sustainable practices were used to create the product, and recipes.
The new nutritional label service uses the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) database, made possible through a collaboration with the Government of Saint Lucia and the National Agricultural Diagnostic Facility (NADF).
H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, spoke at the official launch. He said the initiative provides local farmers with the necessary tools to label their produce with accurate nutritional information at a low cost, ensuring proper food labeling standards.
“Additionally, we are delighted to cooperate with Massy Stores in implementing QR codes that link to detailed farmer profiles,” Ambassador Chen said. “When customers purchase local agricultural products or processed goods at Massy Stores, they can scan the QR code to access information about the farmers’ production history via the Massy website. This initiative boosts consumer confidence, enhances food safety, and promotes local production and consumption.”
Ambassador Chen added that the project perfectly exemplifies the Taiwan model focusing on people-centered and people-engagement approaches. He noted that it also aligns seamlessly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 12, which focuses on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
“By fostering transparency in the supply chain and encouraging local agriculture, we are making significant strides towards a more sustainable and resilient food system,” Ambassador Chen stated. “At this significant juncture, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Hon. Minister Prospere as well as officials from Ministry of Agriculture, and my colleagues from the Taiwan Technical Mission. I look forward to witnessing the positive impacts of this project on our community and local economy.”
Hon. Alfred Prospere, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development, said the introduction of the QR codes represents a monumental leap forward for Saint Lucia’s agricultural sector. He added that the codes will provide local primary producers with an innovative, easy and efficient tool to connect directly with consumers, ensuring transparency and fostering trust.
“By simply scanning these codes, consumers will access a wealth of information about the products they produce, thereby fostering greater confidence in our locally produced goods,” Hon. Prospere explained. “A second feature we are launching here today is the nutritional fact component of food labels. Previously, agro-processors were faced with a lengthy and expensive process to acquire this information. It will empower our producers to generate precise nutritional labels with ease, incorporating all essential features at a subsidized price of $30.00 per unit.”
Mr. Dunstan Demille, Perishables Manager from Massy Stores St. Lucia, explained that the launch of the QR code is designed to elevate the experience of those involved in locally-produced goods, especially the value-added packaged goods.
“We’re making local products more discoverable with our QR codes,” said Demille. “Our customers are now empowered with even more information on our value added suppliers, our value-added products, and also the production processes: how they grow their items, where they grow them, and what are the methods they use. We feel this enhances the traceability of the products and contributes to improvements in food security. We also feel it creates niche markets, especially in the rural communities.”
Mr. Martin Dorville, Managing Director from Massy Stores St. Lucia, also commented on the new initiative, stating that the supermarket chain remains committed to implementing systems that foster greater connections between producers and customers.
“Hanging about and doing the same things all the time is not part of our DNA,” Dorville explained. “Change and continuous improvement is. I admire the Ministry for embarking on an initiative such as this. Hon. Ambassador, thank you very much. We are on board and we look forward to all of the energy and value that this thing is going to bring to the table for us, our customers, farmers, and the rest of the stakeholders involved.”
The new initiative was also welcomed by Mr. Rody Stanislas, Food Analyst from the National Agricultural Diagnostic Facility (NADF), who spoke on the launch of the new nutritional label access method. He said agro-processors can purchase the customized nutritional facts label for $30.00 for each variety of product.
“Today should be a really exciting day for agro-processors as we continue to empower you by putting various tools in your arsenal as you attempt to access new markets and take your businesses to higher heights,” he said.
Stanislas said the USDA FoodData Central database is an online service which provides information on thousands of food products, and is in compliance with FDA standards, enabling the NADF access the database to assist the agro-processors with the labels.
Stanislas added that: “One of the most-sought-after services from the NADF is having nutritional information on products that agro-processors produce. I’m pleased to inform you that this service is now available at the NADF, thanks to the support from the Taiwan Technical Mission.”
Mr. Glenfield Gilbert, Senior Research Officer from Export Saint Lucia, who read remarks on behalf of his Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Sunita Daniel, said the launch of the nutritional labeling and the QR codes represents a pivotal moment for both farmers and consumers.
“It’s groundbreaking in the sense that it was not something that we really have as yet in Saint Lucia, especially for the farming community,” Gilbert stated.
Meanwhile, Verne Emmanuel, Director of the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS), said that while labeling is a compulsory national standard, and that the SLBS ensures that all products manufactured locally meet those labeling requirements. However, he acknowledged that nutritional labeling is optional of the labeling process, but stressed the importance of including it.
“As we have moved into new and novel products, we’ve seen how the introduction and inclusion of nutritional labeling has added significant value for consumers,” Emmanuel explained. “We note recently that there have been efforts through CARICOM and CROSQ to bring front-of-package labeling systems to provide more information to consumers as to the nutritional content of the products, especially on ingredients of interest, such as salt, sugar and trans fats.”
Also in attendance at the official launch were Hon. Emma Hippolyte, Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs; Mr. Ernest Norbal, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs; and local agro-processors.