Source: Kansas State University Research and Extension
What do pork and beef producers, and bankers have in common? Some of them are exploring new ways of keeping data, called blockchain, can help their businesses and industries.
"Blockchain is really just a database," said Andy Brudtkuhl, director of emerging technology with the National Pork Board. Kansas State University's Master of Agribusiness program, Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas Farm Bureau.
Brudtkuhl is researching the impacts and implications of the technology applied to the food supply chain and specifically, how it can benefit pork producers.
Blockchain is a list of digital records, called blocks that are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a string of numbers and letters produced by a mathematical function – a cryptographic hash – related to the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. By design, it's difficult to modify. Once recorded, the data in any given block can not be altered retroactively without alteration of the subsequent blocks.
Blockchain technology was invented in 2008 by an unknown person using the name Satoshi Nakamoto to serve as the public transaction ledger of the cryptocurrency bitcoin, but since then other industries have explored its use.
Brudtkuhl said, "The Chain in Blockchain" works by referencing the previous block's hash. There is a certain amount of trust built in because everyone has a copy, and it could be easily discovered.
Currently, supply chains rely largely on trust, he said, noting transparency, keeping records from being changed (immutable), increasing traceability and improving efficiency.
"It does not solve the problem," he said, "he said, noting that he is using blockchain technology to track the leafy greens.
This work can not be said to be better than two years. People have had difficulty tracking back to their source. Arrives on consumers' plates. The ability to read more about food and other food cans and to save money for farmers and food shoppers.
Walmart Food Traceability, a new, blockchain-enabled Walmart Food Traceability Initiative. In seconds – not days. "The move, the letter stated, means" all fresh leafy greens suppliers are expected to be able to trace their products back to farm (s).
Brudtkuhl said that as Walmart creates rules for other food suppliers, pork producers want to be involved in the discussion.
For traceability from pig to pork, the DNA problem might be used.
"Right now, a consumer has no idea what steps (a beef) product has been through," said Tyler Lindholm, chief of ranching operations with BeefChain, a new "rancher-centric" "Supply chain using blockchain technology. Lindholm is a Wyoming rancher and chairman of the Wyoming Blockchain Task Force. He is also in Wyoming state representative.
He said he would like to be producer-driven rather than government-driven, and that Walmart will move with its suppliers of leafy greens signals.
These costs will be higher, but higher premiums for enabling unique animal identification and ensuring traceability.
Rachel Gabato, products and program manager with New York- and San Francisco-based company Ripe.io said some companies are using sensors that capture data along the food supply chain, which adds more information, starting with the farmer and all the way through harvest, transport, processing and retail. In that way, it's possible to learn how to work.
This is a new technology that can make it easier to see.
"This is a new technology for the (food) industry," Gabato said, and can help solve problems and lead to less finger-pointing.
"We've had a lot of inquiries from our customers about blockchain," said Tanner Ehmke, CoBank's Knowledge Exchange manager, adding that CoBank is investigating the new technology and how it and its customers might use it. CoBank is a lender to agricultural, power, water and communications businesses.
"New technologies continue to offer a more reliable, efficient, and safe food system," said Allen Featherstone, head of the Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics. "The objective of the workshop was to help demystify the blockchain technology. Those objectives were accomplished. We plan to provide another workshop on the emerging issue of agriculture and food industry during the fall of 2019. "
Kansas State University's Master of Agribusiness program is available at https://mab.k-state.edu/.
