Hugo Byrnes has spent the last 25 years working for consumer goods companies.
He recently joined the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) management board as an independent consultant providing advice on new and upcoming E.U. legislation, due diligence, human rights, deforestation, diversity and inclusion policies, and other supply chain-related topics.
If you want to ensure that a product entering the market is responsibly sourced and meets industry standards, you’ve got to be able to track its journey through the supply chain.
Having spent my career upholding product integrity – most notably from 2016 to 2023 as vice president of product integrity at Ahold Delhaize, a multinational supermarket chain with nearly 8,000 stores serving 63 million shoppers weekly – I understand this better than most.
Putting to one side the dizzying scale of that operation, product integrity is itself a complex field with no shortage of considerations.
Does the product meet safety standards? Align with sustainability commitments? Uphold animal and human welfare requirements? Does it truly originate from where it claims?
Being able to answer these questions is essential to fostering trust and transparency in global supply chains.
Over the years, I’ve worked with organizations worldwide, particularly in the seafood industry, that strive to align supply chains with these diverse requirements for responsible sourcing. There is a common thread in their efforts: the belief that comprehensive, digital, and interoperable traceability is the torch that illuminates the answers to these pressing questions, providing reliable data about sustainability, provenance, and safety. I wholeheartedly agree.
It’s this conviction that led me to join the management board at GDST – a global, business-led movement dedicated to creating and implementing a unified standard for digital traceability in the seafood supply chain – at a pivotal time for the organization.
At the last count, the GDST’s partnership network stood at 72 organizations, spanning multinational retailers, industrial fishing associations, NGOs, and software providers. It’s a strong foundation to build from, and it’s an exciting time, too.
Heading into 2025, GDST will broaden its reach through new dialogue, research, and innovations. By bringing together stakeholders across the seafood value chain, the organization aims to strengthen its global traceability standard and adapt it to ensure it meets emerging needs while continuing to offer a practical, universal standard for the market.
Inclusive dialogue: A platform for collaboration
In 2025, GDST will expand its dialogue program with virtual discussions and an in-person plenary at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain, where we will focus on topics like labor and human rights, aquatic animal welfare, and the nuances of traceability in wild-capture fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing. These dialogues will help us refine our standard and tackle emerging challenges, including the growing demand for sustainability data and regulatory compliance.
Simplifying standards: Enhanced accessibility for all
A key goal for 2025 is to make the GDST standard more accessible by simplifying its structure. GDST is working closely with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) to streamline documentation and develop tools like the GDST AI bot, which will help developers navigate the 600 pages of technical resources needed to integrate the standard. This will ensure that all stakeholders, regardless of size or technological capacity, can easily implement traceability practices that align with GDST’s principles.
Government engagement: Driving traceability through policy
Governments also play a crucial role in advancing traceability, and GDST is working to help governments integrate traceability standards into policy. In 2025, GDST is aiming to host workshops that educate both government bodies and industry stakeholders, focusing on regions where policies are still in development and those where policy commitments to traceability have already been made. These workshops will help ensure that traceability systems are interoperable, strengthening global adoption and regulatory compliance.
To support these efforts, GDST is launching a dedicated “Guidance for Governments” webpage. This hub will feature tools from the Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability (SALT), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines, and best practices for interoperable traceability systems.
Charting the future: A strategy for 2030
As GDST expands its influence, the organization will continue to focus on aligning emerging key data element (KDE) frameworks with the GDST standard, ensuring its adaptability to future challenges in seafood sourcing, import/export regulations, and fisheries management. This comprehensive approach will provide a clear roadmap for scaling traceability efforts globally.
Joining GDST’s management board is a natural step in my career, where building trust and driving change in supply chain governance has always been my focus. Tracking and verifying KDEs at critical tracking events (CTEs) is key to ensuring products meet the highest standards of integrity – responsibly sourced, compliant, and truly reflective of what they claim to be.
What excites me most about GDST’s 2025 vision is the significant renewal underway. We’re refining our standard while opening new paths for collaboration and strengthening global partnerships. The focus on inclusivity, simplicity, and adaptation is essential for driving real, impactful change in seafood traceability.
I’m proud to be part of this movement. Together, we’re shaping a future where every seafood product’s journey is ethical, responsible, and sustainable.
