KF Bioplants: 'Cold chain logistics is like oxygen for our business'

From growth room to global shipment

Temperature control plays a role throughout the entire operation. Inside the company’s laboratories, plants are grown in carefully controlled environments where temperature and humidity must remain stable over long periods of time. Even small deviations can affect plant development and quality.

Once the plants leave the facility, the complexity increases. Shipments travel across continents, moving through temperature-controlled transport, airport handling and airline logistics before reaching their final destination.

“At every step, something can go wrong,” Kishore explains. “A delay, a breakdown, or incorrect handling can affect the entire shipment.”

For certain plant varieties, the acceptable temperature range is extremely narrow. If those conditions are not maintained, the consequences are immediate. “Plants can develop infections or lose quality,” Kishore says. 

Traditional plastic dataloggers

Before switching to Tapp, KF Bioplants used traditional plastic data loggers with lithium batteries. “These required software and manual handling, making the process time-consuming and less flexible.” There were also practical limitations. Lithium-based devices are increasingly restricted by airlines, and the environmental impact of single-use hardware became harder to justify.

Tapp: a simple and scalable alternative

KF Bioplants first came across Tapp through a Dutch partner. What immediately stood out was the simplicity of the solution. “You just tap it with your phone and get the data,” Kishore says. “It’s that simple.”

Tapp’s paper-based datalogger labels remove the need for USB connections, software or battery management. Instead of relying on dedicated hardware, monitoring becomes part of the shipment itself, with data instantly accessible to anyone involved.

Insight and accountability

Today, KF Bioplants uses Tapp both in its growth rooms and in its shipments. When the shipment arrives, the receiver taps the label and immediately sees the full transport history. “If something goes wrong, we can see exactly what happened and when,” Kishore explains. “It gives us accountability.”

Sustainability as a prerequisite

For KF Bioplants, sustainability is deeply embedded in its operations. The company has invested in energy-efficient lighting, solar power and the reuse of materials within its production processes. “Sustainability is not an option in our industry,” Kishore says. “It is a prerequisite.”

Against that background, switching to a paper-based datalogger was a logical step. Traditional devices with lithium batteries no longer aligned with the company’s sustainability goals, while Tapp offered a recyclable and more environmentally friendly alternative.

From monitoring to improvement

Both internal teams and external partners can work with the system without additional training or technical setup. “It’s very easy to activate and read,” Kishore explains. “Our team learned it quickly, and our customers as well.” 

After using thousands of Tapp labels, KF Bioplants continues to expand its use of the technology across its operations and global network. “I already recommend Tapp to many companies worldwide,” Kishore says.

For a company where product quality depends entirely on controlled conditions, the conclusion is clear: “Monitoring should be simple. And it should give you answers.”