A Blockchain Implementation Prototype for the Electronic Open Source Traceability of Wood along the Whole Supply Chain.

Simone Figorilli,Corrado Costa,Giacomo Colle,Davide Del Vecchio,Edoardo Pinci,Giulio Sperandio,Francesca Antonucci,Paolo Menesatti,Federico Pallottino,Andrea Proto,Marco Castiglione,Luciano Raso

doi:10.3390/s18093133

Abstract

This is the first work to introduce the use of blockchain technology for the electronic traceability of wood from standing tree to final user. Infotracing integrates the information related to the product quality with those related to the traceability [physical and digital documents (Radio Frequency IDentification—RFID—architecture)] within an online information system whose steps (transactions) can be made safe to evidence of alteration through the blockchain. This is a decentralized and distributed ledger that keeps records of digital transactions in such a way that makes them accessible and visible to multiple participants in a network while keeping them secure without the need of a centralized certification organism. This work implements a blockchain architecture within the wood chain electronic traceability. The infotracing system is based on RFID sensors and open source technology. The entire forest wood supply chain was simulated from standing trees to the final product passing through tree cutting and sawmill process. Different kinds of Internet of Things (IoT) open source devices and tags were used, and a specific app aiming the forest operations was engineered to collect and store in a centralized database information (e.g., species, date, position, dendrometric and commercial information).

Highlights

The capacity to track the complete product supply chain in both industries and agriculture is nowadays possible with the implementation of automated identification systems establishing a link among the product and a database of the product and processes it undergoes [1]
The work specifies the necessity to trace information from the standing tree through the whole chain as a necessary condition to certify the origin of the material. This represents the documented correlation between raw wood and original tree populations with the storage of all data linked to the origin and the authorization procedure of the cut. In such a context, infotracing systems can provide a reference web interface to access the product info card displaying all information and data released as feedback by the manufacturer, wholesaler, reseller, retailer and consumer [2]
Infotracing integrates the information related to the quality of the product with those related to the traceability [physical and digital documents (RFID architecture)] within an online information system whose steps can be made safe to evidence of alteration through the blockchain

Summary

Introduction

The capacity to track the complete product supply chain in both industries and agriculture is nowadays possible with the implementation of automated identification systems establishing a link among the product and a database of the product and processes it undergoes [1]. The work specifies the necessity to trace information from the standing tree through the whole chain as a necessary condition to certify the origin of the material This represents the documented correlation between raw wood and original tree populations with the storage of all data linked to the origin and the authorization procedure of the cut. In such a context, infotracing systems can provide a reference web interface to access the product info card displaying all information and data released as feedback by the manufacturer, wholesaler, reseller, retailer and consumer [2]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion