eGrain Passport pilot

A £250,000 project exploring the feasibility of moving the current paper grain passport system online is being funded by HGCA.

The eGrain passport pilot project is the result of discussions by the Cereals Liaison Group, which highlighted the need for the UK cereals industry to be able to meet future data requirements, to improve the two-way flow of information and strengthen assurance schemes.

Muntons, Gleadell and Openfield have agreed to become pilot participants for the malting barley supply chain, while Heygates, Glencore and Fengrain will be the pilot participants for the milling wheat supply chain.

The pilot will run for 12 months and will produce recommendations on whether the electronic passport should be rolled out nationally, and what modifications or enhancements might be needed to do so.

The pilot is supported by the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), the Maltsters Association of Great Britain (MAGB), the National Association of British and Irish Millers (nabim), the National Farmers Union (NFU), the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

For further information contact Roz Reynolds on 024 7647 8730

eGrain passport Q&As

Where has the concept of running an electronic grain passport pilot come from?

In 2012, HGCA undertook a feasibility study on behalf of the industry to consider the concept of moving the UK’s current paper-based grain passport to an electronic platform. The feasibility study included a detailed consultation with growers, merchants, hauliers and processors.

The study followed discussions about an eGrain passport by the Cereals Liaison Group, which is an industry group representing all parts of the cereal supply chain. These discussions included the need to meet future data requirements, improving the two-way flow of information and adding strength to crop assurance.

Why has HGCA agreed to fund it?

HGCA committed £250,000 of funding in November 2013 to undertake a proof of concept pilot for an eGrain passport. This followed consultation with, and support for, the pilot from key stakeholders, including AIC, MAGB, nabim, NFU, NFUS and RHA.

How have the participants been selected?

Participants were identified and approached following consultation with industry organisations and the Steering Group.

Muntons, Gleadell and Openfield have agreed to be the malting sector participants Heygates, Glencore and Fengrain have agreed to be the milling sector participants.

Grower and haulier participants will be identified following further project scoping work and discussions with the Steering Group and pilot participants.

Can other companies become involved in the eGrain pilot?

The pilot will be over a 12-month period with a staged approach being adopted. HGCA will engage with additional participants as the pilot develops (post-harvest 2014) to ensure the evidence gathered both reflects the make-up of the industry and tests all methods of access to the eGrain passport system.

This includes access via system integration and a free-to-access web portal.

What challenges is the pilot anticipating?

The UK cereal industry is a fast-moving and dynamic industry. If an eGrain passport system is going to work for the cereal sector it needs to be able to cope with a range of scenarios and situations.

Over the 12-month industry trial, HGCA will look to test the system in a wide range of situations including rejections and grower self-hauling, to name just a few.

HGCA will also test the system when IT connectivity is not possible and a paper-based fall-back solution is needed.

Testing the system in a range of situations and scenarios will not be without its challenges. The pilot has been set up to identify these challenges and propose potential solutions. The pilot and its recommendations must be robust and reflect the realities of the industry.

How will the pilot report back and what will be the scope of its recommendations?

Following the 12-month industry trial, recommendations will be made as to whether or not the system should be rolled out to a wider user base and, if appropriate, how a wider roll-out should be achieved.

The recommendations will cover (1) the practicalities of operating the system, (2) the cost of participation and (3) the benefits and risks of using an electronic system.

What are the next steps now the participants have been agreed?

The eGrain IT system is being developed and built. This work is expected to continue until August 2014. Once the system has been developed, HGCA will be undertaking small scale trials to test this system.

This will be done with the pilot participants plus selected hauliers and growers following bespoke training sessions on how to use the system.

How long will the pilot run for?

The pilot will run for 12 months, with a phased approach being adopted. This will include small-scale trials pre-harvest 2014 and build up over the 12-month period as appropriate.

Will the pilot result in the system being rolled out nationally?

The pilot project is a proof of concept. It is not a guarantee that a national roll-out will necessarily follow.

Information gained from the trial will enable evidence-based recommendations to be made on whether the solution should be rolled out nationally or not.

How will regional businesses be represented in the pilot?

The pilot’s recommendations need to take into consideration the breadth of the industry, including both large and smaller businesses.

HGCA will engage with additional participants as the pilot develops (post-harvest 2014) to ensure the evidence gathered both reflects the make-up of the industry and tests all methods of access to the eGrain passport system. This includes access via system integration and a free-to-access web portal.

Additional Working Groups will support the eGrain passport Steering Group during the pilot. The views of the regional businesses will be welcomed via this channel and it will be sensible to do this once the initial trials stage of the pilot has been completed.

Updated July 2014