Is Traceability a Challenge to our Societies?

The multiplication of intermediaries today tends to erode the visibility that economic actors have on the chain of distribution, consumption and destruction. In this context, scandals involving the food and pharmaceutical industries can rapidly undermine confidence, casting doubt on the entire chain which consumers no longer understand. This mistrust is reflected in particular in the increased value given to local products and short circuits. Can trust exist without transparency?

Institutionalization of health warnings, modernization of regulations, use of digital tools or generalization of the precautionary principle: the means to improve traceability are numerous and can be developed. What scale should be used to regulate traceability? Can the European Union guarantee transparency on a continent-wide scale? Can new digital tools make the production chain more transparent for consumers?