Blockchain technology and traceability in the agrifood industry

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Computer Science
• Supply Chain Management

Background:

• Distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) offer enhanced safety, immutability, transparency, and scalability for tracing agrifood supply chains.
• Blockchain (BC) and other DLTs are increasingly adopted for improving traceability in the agrifood sector.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review relevant case studies of agrifood supply chain traceability using DLTs.
• To propose a logical scheme for identifying the most suitable BC structure for specific agrifood supply chain traceability needs.
• To guide the selection of BC technologies, including identifying scenarios where complex solutions are not required.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature and case studies on DLT applications in agrifood traceability.
• Development of a logical framework for matching BC structures to specific supply chain requirements.
• Analysis of factors influencing the necessity of complex BC technologies for traceability.

Main Results:

• Identified key DLT applications and their impact on agrifood supply chain traceability.
• Presented a structured approach for selecting appropriate BC architectures based on supply chain characteristics.
• Highlighted that not all agrifood supply chains necessitate complex blockchain solutions for effective traceability.

Conclusions:

• DLTs provide significant benefits for agrifood supply chain traceability.
• A tailored approach to BC selection is crucial for optimizing traceability solutions.
• The proposed scheme aids in making informed decisions about BC implementation in the agrifood sector, preventing over-engineering.