The FDA’s Food Traceability Rule (FSMA Sec. 204) requires entities who process, pack, or hold foods that are listed on the Food Traceability List (FTL) to establish and maintain additional records, beyond the traditional “one up, one back” approach. Developing a comprehensive strategy to comply with FSMA 204 by January 20, 2026 requires years of planning. This session will highlight how small and medium-sized firms can navigate the regulation’s requirements and begin working with supply chain partners to prepare for compliance. Traditionally, entities across the food supply chain have used paper records across their enterprise, but this session will examine the importance for transitioning to digital recordkeeping to improve business intelligence and ensure FSMA compliance. While FSMA Sec. 204 provides the “what” (i.e., KDEs, CTEs, Food Traceability Plan, etc.), the industry must work together to develop the “how” (i.e., tech-enabled solutions) so that small and medium-sized businesses can remain competitive in this rapidly evolving food system. Speaker: Julie McGill