The seafood industry is rightly concerned about supply chain opacity and the risks it poses (Moral Money, FT.com, December 16).

Forced labour, illegal fishing, and biodiversity loss present not just ethical concerns but significant economic threats. The challenge, like most supply chain challenges, lies in traceability — knowing where a product comes from, how it was processed, and ensuring it meets the standards and quality demanded by both regulators and consumers.

Many companies still rely on outdated paper-based records. At Pragmatic Semiconductor, we make Radio Frequency Identification/Near Field Communication chips that enable smart packaging. This makes near real-time traceability and provenance a reality. Integrated into packaging, each chip has a unique ID, ensuring authenticity and helping to combat counterfeiting.

Moreover, flexible form factor RFID/NFC chips are ultra-thin and have a lower carbon footprint than traditional silicon-based solutions, seamlessly embedding intelligence in products where it previously wasn’t feasible, enabling tracking, authentication and information-sharing throughout a product’s lifecycle, as well as enhancing sustainability and customer trust while meeting regulatory requirements. Industries grappling with traceability challenges — whether seafood, FMCG or pharmaceuticals — stand to benefit immensely.

Dave Moore Chief Executive, Pragmatic Semiconductor Cambridge, UK