Many companies are considering investments in radio frequency identification (RFID) systems to help track the location of products in the supply chain. But they should not look to these systems to easily pay for themselves.

"Many of the top ten drug manufacturers either have deployed radio frequency identification (RFID) projects, or are in the process. "Tagging each bottle enables you to identify exactly where the counterfeit drug comes into the supply chain," said Andy Holman, business development and engineer for Avery Dennison Corp."

In this article it is surmised that after a peak oil crash, the government will need a tracking system for dwindling food supplies, which include animals that can be eaten or produces food.