Agrotechnology

Implementing Blockchain to Promote Organic and Sustainable Agriculture

Angelis Ndou^* Department of Supply Chain Management, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
^*Correspondence: Angelis Ndou, Department of Supply Chain Management, University of Udine, Udine, Italy, Email:

Received: 13-Oct-2023, Manuscript No. AGT-23-23766; Editor assigned: 16-Oct-2023, Pre QC No. AGT-23-23766 (PQ); Reviewed: 06-Nov-2023, QC No. AGT-23-23766; Revised: 13-Nov-2023, Manuscript No. AGT-23-23766 (R); Published: 20-Nov-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2168-9891.23.12.341

Description

Organic and sustainable agriculture is a form of food production that aims to preserve the environment, human health, animal welfare, and social justice. Organic and sustainable agriculture follows the principles of agroecology, which include minimizing the use of synthetic inputs, enhancing biodiversity, recycling nutrients, and adapting to local conditions. Organic and sustainable agriculture also seeks to ensure fair prices and incomes for farmers, and to provide consumers with high-quality and safe food products.

However, organic and sustainable agriculture faces many challenges and barriers in the current food system, such as lack of trust, transparency, and traceability. Consumers often have limited information and knowledge about the origin, quality, and certification of organic and sustainable food products, and may encounter fraud and mislabeling in the market. Farmers also have difficulties in accessing markets, complying with regulations, and proving their compliance with organic and sustainable standards. Moreover, the certification and verification processes of organic and sustainable agriculture are often costly, time-consuming, and complex, involving multiple actors and intermediaries.

Blockchain technology is a potential solution to address these challenges and barriers, and to promote organic and sustainable agriculture. Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger system that allows for transparent, secure, and tamper-proof record-keeping. Blockchain technology enables the creation and exchange of digital tokens that represent physical assets, such as food products, and that can be traced and verified along the supply chain. Blockchain technology also allows for the implementation of smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements that can automate transactions and enforce rules.

Blockchain technology benefits for organic and sustainable agriculture

Enhancing transparency and traceability: Blockchain technology can provide consumers with accurate and reliable information about the origin, quality, and certification of organic and sustainable food products, and can enable them to verify the authenticity and integrity of the products. Blockchain technology can also provide farmers with real-time and granular data about the production, processing, and distribution of their products, and can help them to optimize their operations and reduce waste.

Improving efficiency and profitability: Blockchain technology can reduce the costs and time of certification and verification processes, and can eliminate the need for intermediaries and third-party auditors. Blockchain technology can also facilitate the access and integration of farmers into local and global markets, and can enable them to receive fair and timely payments for their products. Blockchain technology can also create new business models and opportunities for farmers, such as peer-to- peer trading, crowd funding, and micro financing.

Increasing trust and accountability: Blockchain technology can increase the trust and confidence of consumers and stakeholders in organic and sustainable agriculture, and can foster a closer and more direct relationship between producers and consumers. Blockchain technology can also increase the accountability and responsibility of actors in the supply chain, and can enable the enforcement of standards and regulations. Blockchain technology can also support the participation and empowerment of farmers and communities in the decision-making and governance of organic and sustainable agriculture.

Examples of blockchain applications in organic and sustainable agriculture

Origin trail: A blockchain-based traceability platform that connects and secures data from different sources and systems in the supply chain, and provides consumers with QR codes to scan and access information about the products.

Provenance: A blockchain-based platform that enables producers and brands to create digital passports for their products, and to share their stories and impact with consumers and stakeholders.

Agri-digital: A blockchain-based platform that connects farmers, buyers, and financiers, and provides solutions for commodity management, traceability, and financing.

TE-food: A blockchain-based farm-to-table traceability solution that covers the entire food supply chain, and provides consumers with QR codes to scan and access information about the products.

Blockchain technology is a potential and innovative technology that can offer several benefits for organic and sustainable agriculture, such as enhancing transparency and traceability, improving efficiency and profitability, and increasing trust and accountability. Blockchain technology can also support the development and implementation of policies and incentives, and the collaboration and cooperation of various stakeholders, to promote organic and sustainable agriculture. Blockchain technology can be a key tool for the transition and transformation of the food system, and can contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals.