swissstartups
Veterinary drugs. Fakes and illicit markets
When talking about troubles with veterinary drugs, the first thing that comes to our mind is the extensive use of antibiotics in modern farms. It is true that today antibiotics are the only way to overcome a bacterial disease efficiently. However, their misuse to increase animal growth-rate and productivity can stimulate the development of an […]
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Herbs and spices. Hard to recognize, easy to counterfeit
The term “spices” comes from the Latin “species” which indicates a special type of valuable goods that differs from ordinary ones. Due to their exotic characteristics and low availability, in mediaeval times the term gradually came to indicate the vegetable substances of oriental origin mainly used for cooking purposes. Apart from the religious valence and […]
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Illegal agrochemical products. Numbers, risks and solutions
It is not just about the vegetable soup you might eat once a month, it is also about the wooden table on which you eat the soup, or even the cotton shirt you are wearing every day. Now think about all the staple crops in different areas of the world and the ones that are […]
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Blockchain-based traceability for the Food & Beverage sector. The QR code deception
Nowadays, when it comes to produce and sell food and beverages, traceability represents a fundamental requirement. Before becoming an advertising stunt, we must say that the “ability” to “trace” food along the supply chain till the point of sale is mandatory by law. However, following product’s path from the production site to the shelves of […]
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The consequences of counterfeiting: not only monetary losses
Selling one thing for another, tampering goods in order to increase their commercial value and copying others’ ideas and inventions to make profits are all old and repeatedly pursued actions since the dawn of times. This of course does not mean that they are legitimate and lawful practices. In fact, besides being morally questionable, they […]
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