Origin verification

Source Certain verifies origin and sourcing data via scientific analysis of physical products. Using trusted scientific methods, we can verify whether your physical product matches its digital or paper-based origin and provenance information, thereby improving traceability.

Source Certain relies on a powerful combination of stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) and trace element analysis (TEA) to deliver a superior validation result compared to providers using only SIRA.

We verify your product, not your packaging.

Traditional tracing methods, including packaging, barcodes, and labels supported by digital systems, are insufficient to guarantee the traceability of products to their origin in global supply chains. Their traceability is limited to the point where a label was first applied, and they are susceptible to tampering. Some companies are also only able to provide a country of origin test, where industries commonly need more specific provenance traceability testing completed.

Our origin verification service provides scientific proof that a product is consistent with its claimed origin. This, in turn, validates other vital information associated with your product, like third-party certifications and ESG claims.

Origin verification is a crucial layer in traceability systems, providing assurance for reportable sourcing data. Our origin traceability and verification service applies to all food and resource industries.

• Protect brand reputation and validate the integrity of product claims.
• Validate important sourcing data to enable accurate ESG and sustainability reporting.
• Enhance data collection and minimise sourcing risks.

We have been providing accurate and reliable outcomes for clients around the world using stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) and trace element analysis (TEA), to prove that the information shared about their products is accurate or to identify exposure to common supply chain risks:

• Food fraud, false claims, illegal sourcing from deforested land, product substitution, mislabelling, contamination claims and product adulteration.

• Sourcing data from suppliers (i.e. digital or paper-based certificates of origin, invoices, and shipping documents).
• Made in/Produced in/Product of claims.
• GPS and polygon origin data supporting deforestation-free commitments and EUDR compliance.

We organise the collection of reference samples of the product from their known harvest locations (origin).

We analyse these reference samples in our lab using TEA and SIRA to determine a unique ‘reference fingerprint’ for each discrete location for full transparency.

We test your product, whether sold at retail or collected at specific points in the supply chain, to verify if it matches the reference fingerprints.

If they don’t match, a sourcing issue may be present and require further investigation, tracking and verification.

Our scalable and cost-effective service is available worldwide and can accommodate both small producers with a handful of production sites and large corporations or industry groups sourcing from hundreds of production sites.

Our pre-analysis support includes a discovery phase to understand our client organisation, supply chain structure, challenges, and stakeholders.

Our post-analysis support includes expert advice on how to drive action, communicate and/or leverage analysis outcomes.

With vast quantities of SKUs, sourcing locations, and global logistics, there is a higher risk of products being mislabeled, counterfeited, or substituted in the supply chain. Origin traceability information captured in the chain of custody data is more susceptible to intentional or unintentional manipulation.

Scientific origin verification of the physical products being received and sold on the shelf can verify the sourcing information your team receives from suppliers and reports on, ensuring the products are coming exactly from where they claim to be.

The origin of a product connects to Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) commitments and claims delivered at harvest origin, including:

• Sustainable sourcing, deforestation-free supply chains, environmentally friendly production, slave-free labour, or organic farming methods.
• Origin verification validates critical origin information relevant to reporting on SDG and ESG-based sourcing goals.
• Reduce ESG risk by verifying your sourcing data to support sustainability reporting, confirm deforestation-free sourcing, and uphold modern slavery commitments.
• Regulators and stakeholders increasingly require more information about the origin of products for companies to meet their due diligence requirements, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). For this reason, it is essential to implement a scientific service that provides evidence-based data for precise sourcing locations.

Managing a brand’s reputation requires sharing accurate information with stakeholders, including customers and investors. Origin traceability and verification information is leveraged in marketing and is vital to accurate reporting against SDG and sustainable sourcing goals. It builds consumer trust and influences purchasing behaviour. If the origin information for these activities is inaccurate or misleading, it can lead to reputational damage, loss of social license, or accusations of greenwashing.

Enhancing data collection and minimising the risk of misreporting:

• Enhance your data collection process to enable more robust reporting on material sourcing. Our data can support due diligence requirements and chain of custody records.
• Origin verification is a reliable tool for determining whether materials have been sourced from a region with known issues related to deforestation, sanctions, or tariffs.
• Our scientific service provides an additional layer of security and diversification to otherwise all-digital traceability systems.

Producers invest resources into practices that deliver a premium product to market. From sustainable land and fishery management to organic farming practices and licenced varieties, these investments of time and money are put at risk in complex export markets where boutique and premium produce (such as beef, seafood and cherries) are targets of food fraud.

Origin verification of a client’s physical product purchased in the export market can ensure that a substituted, low-value product is not being sold under their brand, thereby maintaining the value of their investment. Read about our work with Reid Fruits Cherries for a real-life example.