Blockchain based applications' future challenges in food traceability

Abstract

Rising cases of contaminated food products are resulting in customer trust erosion and economic loss to stakeholders of the food industry. Various stakeholders like food producers, distributors, auditing, and certification agencies are working with researchers to address this issue. Studying the supply chain can aid in tracking and authenticating information gathered at various points regarding the food product. Using blockchain technology for supply chain management can ensure transparency and traceability of the data recorded in the supply chain. In this paper, we review the suitability of blockchain technology in guaranteeing traceability and authenticity in the supply chain. We find that although characteristics of blockchain are highly suitable for providing traceability, authenticity, and transparency there are still challenges in data capturing, authentication of captured data, and the high cost of adoption of such system.