By creating a network of tamper-proof and automated sensor networks, we’re inspiring companies to rethink their existing logistics and explore new business opportunities.

By Dr. Stefan Meyer, CTO, Ambrosus

The real-world problems Ambrosus is solving

1. There is currently no fool-proof way to verify origin of materials/products on the market, yet 8 out of 10 people want a better understanding of where their food is coming from (source: https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/42541/8-10-consumers-labelling/).

2. Counterfeit products, foodborne outbreaks, food waste, and product recalls can be prevented, traced/tracked and verified.

3. Businesses want complete, streamlined, and cost-effective solutions that make sense for where macro and business trends are heading.

Where we’re at and what you can expect to see next

Over the past months, Ambrosus has established a well-equipped lab in Lausanne, Switzerland doing pioneering work in the field of IoT and sensor technologies; we’re also embarking on research collaborations with reputed academic Institutions. So it’s no surprise we’ve got more than 10 new projects in the pipeline. Here’s what you can expect to see next.

Sampling vs. Sensor Automation

We’re fast moving towards an era where all transactions related to trade and exchange of commodities will be automated, including measurements, quality control, and payments. To make this a reality, those measurements need to be reliable. That’s where sensors come in.

Our mission at Ambrosus is to transform supply chains so they become automated and smart. Think replacing manual, time-consuming sampling and lab analytics with non-invasive, automated sensors that are reliable and tamper-proof compared to the existing sensors on the marketplace, so that we can create smarter solutions for all stakeholders. The usage cases are wide in scope, and the way we solve these problems will have large impacts on all parties within a supply chain. To begin imagining the possibilities for even one usage case: Think of why random sampling of food for pesticides does not ensure the quality of the entire batch.

Our sensor technology will automatically monitor such products and can be integrated with related equipment — for example, on tractors and pumps that spray pesticides. These can all be tracked remotely and stored in our data ecosystem. With large-scale data integration, continuous quality assessment and assurance of authenticity will become a reality.

Our capabilities and solutions set us apart from competition

1. Miniaturization of DNA Testing

The New York Times cited a project that found a quarter of fish in restaurants was mislabeled. A piece of sushi sold as white tuna turned out to be much cheaper Mozambique Tilapia. In Iceland there have been cases of farm fish being mislabelled as the sea-going variety and sold at a premium.

DNA testing of tissue samples in order to assure origin is a slow and expensive process. However, with Ambrosus’ sensors, fish samples can be profiled by controlling the supply chain practices through deploying the IoT network of sensors and storing their records on the blockchain. Using tracers or smart containers will not only save money compared to existing solutions, but also increase reliability, as the data will be immutably recorded in real-time on our blockchain and cannot be tampered with in any way.

2. Smart Packaging

One of our core strategies for avoiding counterfeiting and unauthorized replacement of food products is the development of smart packaging. Packages are fitted with sensors that monitor storage conditions in addition to recording unauthorized opening of the container. QR codes embedded on packaging will enable anyone to trace its entire history, including conditions of storage and tamper alerts. Ambrosus is also developing traceable capsules which are completely tamper-proof, for potential adoption by manufacturers.

3. Is your organic olive oil really organic? Tamper-Proof Sensors

Within three years’ time, most transactions and payments will be automated over smart contracts, creating motivation for sensor tampering. How can buyers really guarantee that a sensor reading is accurate and not a result of tampering? Is your organic olive oil really organic? Enter Ambrosus’ tamper-proof sensors, one of our core development projects. Our technology will ensure proper sensor calibration without any unauthorized manipulation. The capsules under development contain electronics for this use which will be completely sealed. We’ve already identified demand for such packaging for premium olive oils. For other applications, we are designing sensors that will check the accuracy and reliability of other sensors.

How Sensors and Blockchain come together

The larger goal of Ambrosus is to ensure traceability, proof of origin, and quality of products moving through supply chains, which means combining hardware and software to achieve the ultimate data integrity. Thus, we aim to ensure that a product hasn’t been removed from its original packaging, verify the product’s quality without invasive, manual testing, and provide the industry with technologies to embrace automation and smart contracts implementation.

High quality, tamper-proof sensors are only one part of the equation. Once we have a stream of reliable data, it needs to be stored in a manner that guarantees data integrity, reliability, and verifiability.

In this regard, Ambrosus’ hardware and software teams are working in parallel, playing off each other’s progress. These will help primary stakeholders such as manufacturers, business partners like pharmacies and retailers, and third-party stakeholders serving similar categories of customers. For example, insurance companies have told us that this kind of data is valuable to them, as it significantly reduces risk, affecting insurance rates.

Where sensors and blockchain come together: Ambrosus Lab

While we develop and build long-term sensor solutions and IP in our lab, Ambrosus is also actively scouting for technology and identifying state-of-the-art sensors in the market that can trace quality. We will be integrating them within our network and developing embedded software and protocols to enhance their reliability; we’ll also be integrating them with our communication modules to more rapidly bring earlier-stage product/solutions to our customers using legacy systems. These will also integrate with any future technologies we deliver to market.

Our Data Ecosystem team provides us with industry inputs about new measurement problems as they build solutions for industry. As we identify these new opportunities, we create project teams to scout applicable technologies and implement new sensor solutions.

And, we’ll be telling you what’s going on behind the scenes: we’ve hired staff to document, demonstrate, and build product prototypes, for current client trials and ongoing business development conversations.

In the coming months, expect continued news on research and developments, along with detailed updates from our current pilots. At Ambrosus, we are excited and confident that our solutions will enable industries to reinvent their supply chains, reducing cost and waste, optimizing efficiency, and improving quality of products.

About Ambrosus

Ambrosus is building the world’s first universally-verifiable ecosystem to ensure the quality, safety, and origins of the products we consume. Combining high-tech sensors, blockchain protocol built on Ethereum, and smart contracts, Ambrosus’ technology will radically improve global supply chains by reliably recording the entire history of products — particularly in the food and pharmaceuticals space. This will enable a more secure and autonomous supply chain, optimize distribution processes, and allow consumers to easily see where their products come from and what’s really in them. Always thinking bigger, Ambrosus aims to drive powerful social change, enabling developers to build solutions to global problems faced by consumers and businesses — both large and small — here and in the developing world. In 2018 and beyond, we’ll work to build a global trade and financial ecosystem, creating a flexible platform that connects the movement of goods to the movement of finances. At Ambrosus, we’re building an ecosystem of trust: creating a healthier, wealthier, and more sustainable world — for everyone.

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