It’s no secret that food waste is a colossal problem.
In fact, it’s even been estimated that up to one third of all food produced is wasted, either in supply chain inefficiencies or consumer behavior.
Obviously, it’s impossible to monitor and alter the habits of individuals contributing to the waste crisis. But blockchain technology, if properly applied, solves the problem of unnecessary loss.
Blockchain: A Short Introduction
Created as the digital ledger supporting and logging Bitcoin transactions, blockchain has recently exploded in popularity for its applications outside of the financial sector. Here’s the basics of how it works:
The receiver or sender of the funds (or information, in applications like this), requests a transaction
The transaction is broadcast to the decentralized network, comprised of many individual computers, called nodes
Once the network of nodes verifies the authenticity of the transaction and user(s), the transaction is approved and the exchange is conducted
The data associated with this transaction is combined with that of other transactions and used to create a “block”
This new block of transaction data is added to the existing “chain” at set intervals
The chain remains as an unalterable, totally transparent ledger of all transactions
Beyond increased transaction speed and the benefits of decentralization, this technology also dramatically increases authenticity and security of data. Because all blocks are “linked” together in the chain, it is incredibly difficult to corrupt the information. Without access to computing power that stretches the limits of what’s possible to possess, the permanently linked chain cannot lose or alter existing blocks. Just as it would be almost impossible to remove by hand a single brick from a pile 1000 bricks high, it’s similarly implausible that the blockchain could be altered in such a way. This means that all transactions and related transparency data are reliably and permanently accessible to all.
Blockchain as a Solution
But what does this mean for problems of sustainability and waste reduction?
The greatest benefit of blockchain applications such as eHarvestHub is in the reduction of inefficiencies that lead to reduced shelf life. The current supply chain from farmer to grocer is a tangled mess of middlemen and brokers. eHarvestHub, by harnessing the decentralization possible with blockchain, aims to cut out the middlemen and connect farmers directly to grocers, with direct involvement and input from truckers.
Traditionally, this would be a logistical nightmare and almost impossible to accurately track. The risk profile for lost shipments and fraud far outweighs the benefits, necessitating those broker “checkpoints”. Blockchain technology, though, with its inherent security elements, ensure total transparency and accessibility of all data.
Additionally, the storage and accessibility of the blockchain reduces instances of unnecessary waste. By weaving AI and machine learning principles into the data analysis of shipments, all parties are able to view relevant metadata such as temperature and humidity changes while in transit. This meta-analytical view, used in conjunction with reduced transport time between source, production and consumption approaches a more economically ideal equilibrium devoid of needless loss.
Moving Forward
The solutions above are just the beginning for blockchain in consumables supply chain management. The authenticity of the blockchain ledger also provides far greater confidence in the sourcing practices of each store, a metric of increasing importance to informed consumers.
Even in the issuance of recalls, eHarvestHub provides tremendous value through the blockchain. When an agricultural contaminant is identified (such as e-Coli or Salmonella ), a broad warning to avoid purchasing any of that particular fruit or vegetable. This is because, as mentioned above, not even grocery stores are perfectly confident in the origin or condition of their produce. By easily and securely tracking conditions and sources, recalls can be limited to only the affected grows, rather than every instance of production.
There are far more benefits of implementing blockchain supply chain solutions, and eHarvestHub is the platform on which the new agricultural economy can and should run.