Future challenges on the use of blockchain for food traceability analysis

• Published in: TrAC, Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.) Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.), 2018-10, Vol.107, p.222-232
• Main Authors: Galvez, Juan F., Mejuto, J.C., Simal-Gandara, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural and farming applications; Blockchain; Data analysis and management; Food authentication; Food chain; Traceability
• ISSN: 0165-9936; 1879-3142
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.08.011

The steady increase in food falsification, which has caused large economic losses and eroded consumers’ trust, has become a pressing issue for producers, researchers, governments, consumers and other stakeholders. Tracking and authenticating the food supply chain to understand provenance is critical with a view to identifying and addressing sources of contamination in the food supply chain worldwide. One way of solving traceability issues and ensuring transparency is by using blockchain technology to store data from chemical analysis in chronological order so that they are impossible to manipulate afterwards. This review examines the potential of blockchain technology for assuring traceability and authenticity in the food supply chain. It can be considered a true innovation and relevant approach to assure the quality of the third step of the analytical processes: data acquisition and management. •Tracking and authenticating the food supply chain to understand provenance is critical.•Solving traceability issues and ensuring transparency can be done by using blockchain.•Blockchain is growing disruptive in the Internet of Things.•Research suggest that blockchain technology can help to achieve traceability.•Blockchain technology looks promising, but there remain some limits to be considered.