Developing integrated computer-based information systems for certified plant traceability: Case study of Italian citrus-plant nursery chain

Certified plant production process usually requires the handling of a number of sub-products deriving from various production centres located in different geographical sites. In this context, supply-chain traceability systems are suitable tools for controlling plant disease diffusion and they can be implemented by means of integrated computer-based information systems (ICBISs) which incorporate data from different production centres. This paper proposes a methodology for the design of ICBISs to implement supply-chain traceability procedures regarding certified plants for food, fresh fruit production, and agro-processing industries. The use of international standards and regulations, put forward by plant certification programs to develop the phase of ‘Requirements analysis and specifications’, addresses the lack of standards application in certified plant traceability procedures. Conceptual and logical models are suggested to model information content and functions of the ICBIS. An innovative system architecture is developed to fulfil supply-chain traceability system requirements and specifications. The proposed methodology was applied to a case study of the Italian certified citrus-plant nursery chain. The results of this research could constitute guidelines for developing ICBISs for certified citrus-plant nursery chain traceability in other major producing countries.