Enhancing traceability of wheat quality through the supply chain

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Food Science
• Grain Science

Background:

• Growing global population necessitates increased food production and reduced food losses.
• Minimizing grain degradation during post-harvest handling is critical for food security.
• Limited research exists on maintaining grain quality between harvest and milling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the knowledge gap regarding grain quality changes between harvest and milling.
• To discuss strategies for preserving Canadian wheat quality during post-harvest unit operations.
• To explore methods for quality monitoring and traceability in the wheat supply chain.

Main Methods:

• Review of wheat flour quality metrics and their dependence on grain properties.
• Analysis of the impact of post-harvest unit operations (drying, storage, blending, cleaning) on grain quality.
• Overview of current grain quality monitoring techniques and identification of gaps.

Main Results:

• Wheat flour quality is influenced by intrinsic grain properties and post-harvest handling.
• Unit operations like drying and storage can significantly affect end-product quality.
• Existing quality monitoring techniques have limitations in ensuring supply chain traceability.

Conclusions:

• Preserving grain quality during post-harvest operations is vital for optimizing food processing.
• Further research and improved monitoring techniques are needed to ensure wheat quality traceability.
• Implementing effective strategies can help meet the escalating global food demand.