Abstract
This research summarizes the implementation of blockchain technology in the food and agriculture industry in Canada. Our research indicates that blockchain solutions are an existing and proven set of technologies. We also describe how blockchain based supply chain traceability information has many more benefits than its current use for food safety and product recalls. We recommend that costs for development of blockchain based solutions should also be distributed across stakeholders, and apportioned by the relevant industry associations. Our research indicates that adoption of blockchain technology in agriculture will achieve critical mass earlier when the industry applies a consortium approach, in a regulatory environment that is supported by government. This report also makes recommendations relevant to the integration of blockchain for end consumers of food.
Highlights
The global food and agriculture industry is in a state of flux, in the short-term due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and due to longer term social, environmental, and cultural trends
This document describes the potential for blockchain technology in the context of the food and agriculture industry in Canada, and many of the findings are applicable to other similar countries
Our research indicates blockchain technology can be as disruptive to the food and agriculture industry as any other industry
Summary
The global food and agriculture industry is in a state of flux, in the short-term due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and due to longer term social, environmental, and cultural trends. In advocating for an initial private, permissioned blockchain solution, we are not advocating for a particular vendor solution, instead we advocate for common standards based solutions in agreement with Flood and McCullagh (2020) to enable the interoperable chain and Smart Contact benefits (Halaburda, 2018) that are essential to create sufficient economic value to cover costs. In spite of these benefits of blockchain technology in food and agriculture, the industry is a slow adopter of blockchain technology compared to other industry sectors. (1) origin of materials and parts; (2) processing history; (3) distribution and location of the product or service after delivery.” (GS1, 2017, p. 1)
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