The blockchain is a dynamic technology. It will be very useful in the coming days. As the name implies BlockChain is a collection of data(Block) which is connected one after other in a certain way like a chain. The blockchain is used in different sectors of the world. The reason we use BlockChain in different sectors is no one can modify or tamper the data. It has greater transparency, enhanced security, and so many features that make the BlockChain technology different from other data structures in the market right now.

One of the sectors is the food supply. We can use this technology in the food supply. With this technology, food supply will be safe. The major reason we have to use BlockChain technology in food safety is the rise of food fraud.

The WHO (World Health Organization) estimated that 1 out of 10 people become ill every year from eating contaminated food, with 420,000 dying as a result. Our food supply has grown so complex that it has become almost impossible for food producers and retailers to guarantee their products. In the 17th century, fraudsters would mix water to the milk and add chalk to bread in order to gain as much profit as possible.

In the 21st century technology is improved. Many are aware of high profile incidents of food fraud from the 2013 UK horsemeat scandal to Salmonella peanut butter outbreak. Of course, the size of such an event naturally brings huge national attention to the security of our food supply. BlockChain provides an open platform because there is no third person needed to authorize but a set of rules both the users and the operators of the system must follow.

BlockChain the trusted machine. This brings a huge advantage for every participant within the supply chain. For producers, the BlockChain means that any attempts to manipulate with a food item as it travels through the supply chain can be immediately recognized and prevented before the food reaches to the retailer. For retailers, if a potentially hazardous food product somehow makes it onto shelves, stores can identify and remove only the offending items, eliminating the need for a costly batch recall. For consumers, the BlockChain offers the transparency needed to reassure them that the food they eat is exactly what the label says it is.

Tracing food with BlockChain:

Figure: BlockChain technology used in supply chain

The BlockChain works as shown in the above figure. To trace the food, here we use a QR code scanner. Information is distributed all the way. The BlockChain has the potential to take the information from food and place it directly into the hands of the customer through the use of a simple QR code and a smartphone. Customers can scan a package at the time of sale and receive a complete history of their food’s journey from farm to fork.

A blockchain is a useful tool here as it records each interaction with an item and assigns it a digital certificate, meaning it can’t be changed later by a company hacker to hide the exact origin and movement of the product through the chain.

By 2022, an innovative business built on a BlockChain will be with $10 billion. The new generation consumers are serving enough to seek reassurance of quality. BlockChain adds an extra level of security for the food industry. The blockchain is the way of storing and sharing information across a network of users in an open virtual space. Since the transactions are not stored in any single location, it is almost impossible to hack or manipulate the information. Thus, we get a quality food supply.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT- EAT WHAT BLOCKCHAIN ASSURES YOU