2019 CAFLP Annual Conference Panel Recap: “Blockchain and the Food System: Possibilities and Risks”

The November 8th “Blockchain and the Food System: Possibilities and Risks” panel explored the new concept of blockchain in the food context through three presentations.

Laurence Clavet started off by painting with broad strokes what blockchain is and how the technology can add transparency into the food system supply chains that are, at current time, de-centralized and shrouded in mystery. The mysterious and extremely long supply chains, often spanning continents, make the food system particularly vulnerable to food fraud. Laurence pointed out that with new consumer values, such as “organic food”, come new opportunities for food producers to create new fraudulent business claims. She is enthusiast about the new technology as a way to keep consumers, government, and food companies informed.

Wayne Logan added concrete examples of current uses of the blockchain in the food system. For example, Shellfish Plan puts scallops on IBM’s tracking blockchain (the international computer hardware company), in order to increase transparency on the journey of this seafood before entering the grocery store. If blockchain technology were to be applied wholly, then a consumer in a grocery store could scan the barcode of an item, such as a tomato, and learn where it was grown, when it was harvested and where it was shipped to.

Pat Mooney continued on a cautionary note: he points out that while the conversation surrounding blockchain applications in food supply chains has been overwhelming positive, we should pause to consider lurking dangers, especially as it is such a major new technology. For example, we should consider energy costs as well as cybersecurity risks.

Barring security and energy-consumption risks, there are exciting opportunities to apply blockchain technologies in order to ensure traceability for consumers, bolster legitimate claims of food businesses, and further the government’s ability to protect the public.