GRAIN INDUSTRY representatives have failed to reach an agreement on the national roll out of an electronic grain passport.

The Cereals Liaison Group met in London last Tuesday to consider whether a nationwide roll out should go ahead based on a costed proposal supplied by AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds and a review of industry consultation responses. The projected cost was £2.5million over the next five years, funded from cereal and oilseed levies.

AHDB cereals and oilseeds chair Paul Temple said: “I am disappointed that it was not possible to agree a way forward at the meeting. The project would have brought the existing grain passport system up to date, providing a platform to enable two-way flow of data between growers and processors and a ‘real time’ means of checking assurance status.

“The Cereals and Oilseeds Board acted as an independent facilitator for the project following an initial request from the industry to explore the feasibility of an online system in 2012. The board had made it clear it was willing to fund the roll out subject to collective industry agreement," he added. "Although we have not got that agreement, the industry still has a valid and robust piece of research which will remain available for future use.”