Redefining food safety traceability system through blockchain: findings, challenges and open issues.

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Computer Science
• Supply Chain Management

Background:

• Increasing food safety and traceability issues necessitate robust tracking systems.
• Existing technologies like RFID and sensor networks have limitations in modern supply chains.
• The need for a secure and transparent method to trace food from producer to consumer is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a systematic overview of research on Food Safety Traceability Systems (FSTS) utilizing blockchain technology.
• To analyze the application of blockchain features (decentralized, immutable, transparent) for FSTS.
• To identify and discuss open research issues in blockchain-based FSTS.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of existing Food Safety Traceability Systems (FSTS).
• Analysis of blockchain technology's suitability for enhancing food traceability.
• Inclusion of survey papers and existing blockchain-based solutions for FSTS.

Main Results:

• Blockchain's inherent features address the limitations of traditional traceability technologies.
• Identified key components of blockchain-based FSTS, including consensus algorithms and security considerations.
• Highlighted the gap in research regarding the systematic implementation process of blockchain in FSTS.

Conclusions:

• Blockchain technology presents a promising solution for secure and transparent food traceability.
• This survey consolidates current research, offering a foundation for future development in blockchain-based FSTS.
• Further research is needed to address practical implementation challenges and emerging security threats.