The Center for Food Integrity
Origin Verification
In partnership with
Turn sourcing claims into independent evidence.
The Center for Food Integrity has partnered with Source Certain to provide food and agriculture organizations with independent origin verification of their sourcing claims. Source Certain verifies where products and materials really come from, giving organizations stronger evidence to get ahead of sourcing risk and make confident, defensible decisions.
Working together to provide a combined solution.
Independent evidence for stronger sourcing decisions.
Consumers, customers and regulators increasingly expect sourcing claims to stand up to scrutiny. Traceability, certifications and supplier declarations remain important, but they depend on the accuracy of information moving through the supply chain.
Origin verification adds independent evidence.
Source Certain tests the physical product to verify whether it is consistent with its claimed origin. This gives organizations an additional layer of certainty behind important sourcing claims – strengthening supplier assurance, supporting more defensible decisions and reducing exposure before issues escalate.
Origin Verification in the Supply Chain
Step 1
Establish database
Step 2
In-market verification — samples pass or fail verification to an approved source
Reference samples collected
Surveillance samples collected/sent to Source Certain
Surveillance samples collected/sent to Source Certain
Surveillance samples collected/sent to Source Certain
Surveillance samples collected/sent to Source Certain
The CFI and Source Certain relationship
The Center for Food Integrity works with organizations across the food and agriculture sector to strengthen trust and integrity across the food system. Through our relationship with Source Certain, we connect organizations with a proven origin verification capability where independent evidence can strengthen existing sourcing and assurance programs.
Source Certain independently delivers the origin verification service, from program design and sampling through to forensic scientific analysis and reporting.
Independent verification starts with the product itself
Using forensic scientific analysis, Source Certain establishes whether products and materials are consistent with their claimed origin – independently of labels, documentation and supplier declarations.
The underlying science has been widely published, used in forensic investigations globally and referenced in scientific conferences, publications and forensic literature.
Source Verification
How is origin verification different from traceability?
Traceability systems provide important information about how products move through supply chains. Their effectiveness, however, depends on the accuracy of the information entered into them.
Source Certain provides a different layer of evidence. By analyzing the physical product itself, origin verification independently tests whether its claimed origin is consistent with the product.
Comparing verification & traceability technologies
 |
Country of Origin Isotope Testing |
Blockchain Technology |
Secure Packaging and Anticounterfeit Technology |
Unique Identification & Digital Technology |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific analysis of a combination of naturally occurring markers (trace elements, isotopes, chemicals and molecules). | The identification of isotopic signature and abundance of certain stable isotopes of chemical elements within organic and inorganic compounds. | A shared, immutable digital ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a supply chain. | Includes overt and covert technologies like barcodes, holograms, sealing tapes and radio frequency identification devices. | Data carrier like a barcode applied to the outside of a product to enable tracking and traceability between supply chain partners. | |
| Ability to verify specific source of production (farm, fishery or forest) | Limited to ID of country or region of origin |
Traceable to place of label/code application |
Anti-tampering measure — no traceability |
Traceable to place of label/code application |
|
| Independent of labels, claims, digital data and packaging | Reliant on labels and digital data |
Provides labels and packaging |
Reliant on labels and digital data |
||
| Can be executed covertly within a supply chain | N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
||
| Tests the physical product moving through the supply chain | Digital and data-based technology |
Packaging-based measure |
Label and digital-based technology |
Scroll horizontally to compare all five technologies on mobile.
About Source Certain
Source Certain provides independent origin verification for food, agriculture and natural resource supply chains worldwide.
Using forensic scientific analysis, Source Certain verifies where products and materials really come from, turning sourcing claims into evidence organizations can act on.
Its verification program complement existing traceability, certification and supplier assurance processes, providing an independent layer of evidence where origin matters.
This enables organizations to get ahead of sourcing risk, strengthen purchasing decisions and protect against commercial and reputational exposure.
Find out more about Source Certain here.
Questions?
Interested in origin verification?
To discuss how Source Certain’s origin verification service could strengthen your existing sourcing and assurance program, please contact Kelly Leighton.