A Message from the General Manager
2001: A Traceability Odyssey
Where were you at the dawn of the 21st Century? The Y2K bug, which ultimately proved harmless, gave way to the rise of the internet, whilst emerging platforms such as Facebook began to transform the way we communicate. The start of the century was brimming with innovations and technological milestones, heralding an era of rapid change.
On September 25, 2001, Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ) was founded. A true pioneer of this era of innovation, ATQ—now Attestra—led the way by opting for a fully electronic traceability system. The successive global health crises of the late 1990s, including ‘mad cow disease’ in Europe, foot-and-mouth disease in Asia, swine fever in the Netherlands, and then avian influenza in the United States, convinced producers and the Québec government to put measures in place to limit the impacts and economic losses, whilst protecting livestock and markets.
Of course, implementing traceability was no easy task, and it would be difficult to summarize in just a few lines the progress made over the last 25 years. That is why I would invite you to consult the timeline included in this report, in which we have captured the key moments of our collective journey.
I cannot emphasize enough how much the success of our achievements has depended on the commitment of everyone involved: the members of our board of directors, who are dedicated, responsible and competent, and an extraordinary team—driven, curious, professional, and resolutely committed to serving our partners and our clients.
Personally, I have had the privilege of contributing to this wonderful journey over the past 14 years. It has been an enriching experience for me, marked by stimulating challenges and numerous achievements, all shared with colleagues whose honesty, respect, openness, and humour have made every day a pleasure. Today, I am stepping down with pride, but also with a heavy heart. I am leaving, however, with peace of mind as Attestra is moving forward on a solid foundation, with a clear vision, and with the certainty that the next generation, led by my successor Philippe Guérineau, among others, will continue to grow our organization with energy, commitment, and confidence.
Thank you for all these wonderful years!
Marie Christine Talbot
General Manager
