# The Rise of Blockchain Technology in Agriculture and Food Supply Chains

**Authors:** Andreas Kamilaris, Agusti Fonts, Francesc X. Prenafeta-Boldu  
**arXiv:** [1908.07391](https://arxiv.org/abs/1908.07391)  
**Date:** 2019-08-18  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/arxiv-id/1908.07391v1/

## Key points

- Blockchain technology can revolutionize the agriculture and food supply chain
- Enables transparent and secure transactions without intermediaries
- "Paddock to plate" project tracks beef production-consumption in Australia using BeefLedger
- JD.com monitors beef production and distribution in China, providing detailed information to consumers through QR codes
- Gogochicken uses ankle bracelets with GPS tracking to monitor free-range chickens
- Challenges to wider adoption include technical aspects, education, policies, and regulatory frameworks.

## Summary

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Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the agriculture and food supply chain by enabling transparent and secure transactions between multiple parties without the need for intermediaries like banks. This article explores the impact of blockchain in this industry, highlighting ongoing projects and initiatives, as well as discussing the challenges and potential implications. One example of a project utilizing blockchain technology in the food supply chain is "Paddock to plate," which aims to track beef production-consumption in Australia. By using BeefLedger as its technology platform, this project enhances Australia's reputation for high-quality beef. Another example is JD.com, an e-commerce platform that monitors beef production in inner Mongolia and its distribution across different provinces in China. Through QR codes, consumers can access detailed information about the animals involved, their nutrition, slaughtering and packaging dates, as well as food safety test results. To ensure that chickens are truly free-range, Gogochicken utilizes ankle bracelets with GPS tracking to monitor their movements and behavior. This data is then made available to customers for transparency purposes. While there are many ongoing initiatives leveraging blockchain technology in various food products and related issues, several barriers still hinder its wider adoption among farmers and systems. These challenges include technical aspects, education, policies, and regulatory frameworks. In conclusion, blockchain shows promise in creating a transparent supply chain for food products. However, further development is needed to overcome existing challenges before it can gain widespread popularity among farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture industry.