1,720,981 research outputs found
Applying Blockchain Technology for Food Traceability
No full textFood traceability had been welcomed to address some concerns related to food scares or fears. Efficient food traceability helps government agencies and those who produce and sell food, in the event of a foodborne illness outbreak or contamination event, quickly find the source of the food contamination. However, traditional food traceability systems are facing problems such as many actors in the food production system (including farmers, food processing companies, and retailers) as well as a lack of technical infrastructures for synchronized food safety monitoring across the food system. Recent research provided ample evidence of the potential of emerging digital advancements such as blockchain technology to alleviate traditional food traceability shortcomings. Blockchain technology is an immutable digital data management system for storing and retrieving generated and linked data in a network (known as blocks). Blockchain with its immutable structure has gained momentum in different industries. There are four major areas in that blockchain could make the food supply chain more efficient. These areas include ensuring data accuracy, improving the efficiency of the food supply chain, enabling smart agriculture, and monitoring food safety. In this entry, the role of blockchain technology in all these areas will be discussed
How Blockchain Facilitates the Transition toward Circular Economy in the Food Chain?
Full text linkFood loss and waste are two of the many problems that modern society is facing. To date, among many solutions, the circular economy is the one prevailing. A successful transition toward a circular economy (CE) requires the food sector to overcome the challenges of today's complex food supply chains such as information asymmetry, poor cooperation among stakeholders, and concerns about food safety. Blockchain, a form of distributed ledger technology, has been progressively gaining traction in supply chains in areas like data management, certifying product provenance and tracking products. Despite its importance, knowledge around the potential of the blockchain technology in facilitating the transition towards a circular economy in the agri-food sector is fragmented. This review provides evidence-based insights into the blockchain implementations in the food supply chains and the implications for CE. Our findings indicated four major areas that blockchain could accelerate CE in the agri-food sector: improving data utility; supply chain management efficacy; enhanced eco-efficiency; and superior traceability
Blockchain technology characteristics essential for the agri-food sector: A systematic review
Full text linkBlockchain is seen as a disruptive fundamental technology that will transform agri-food sectors in the near future. Blockchain is a digital, immutable, decentralized ledger of transactions that is replicated and distributed throughout the chain of computer systems on the blockchain's network. This systematic review examines the literature to identify the enabling characteristics of blockchain technology that support its application in the agri-food sectors. The literature reviewed indicated essential characteristics such as transparency, immutability, redundancy, versatility, automation, and remittance. Among these features, immutability and automation have a salient role in the current implementation, particularly in food traceability. However, the application of blockchain in the agri-food sector is not without controversies. More research is needed regarding technical improvement and its environmental impact
Review of factors affecting consumer acceptance of cultured meat
Full text linkConcerns about animal welfare and sustainable meat production are growing among consumers. The awareness of carbon emissions linked to livestock and ethical concerns have triggered interest in more sustainable meat alternatives, among which cultured meat (also known as laboratory grown meat) is a recent entry. Like any new food, the ultimate success of cultured meat depends on consumer acceptance. This study analyses the peer-reviewed literature on consumer attitudes towards cultured meat to synthesize the existing evidence and identify priorities for future research. A systematic literature review was undertaken using the Web of Science, Science Direct and Scopus databases over 2008–2020, resulting in a final number of 43 articles meeting our selection criteria. The most important factors influencing consumer acceptance/rejection of cultured meat include public awareness, perceived naturalness, and food-related risk perception. Ethical and environmental concerns prompted consumers to be willing to pay a premium price for purchasing meat substitutes, but not necessarily cultured meat. Also, food neophobia and uncertainties about safety and health seem to be important barriers to uptake of this technology. Availability of other alternatives such as plant-based meat substitutes and product features, such as price and sensory appeal, are considered determinants of consumer reception of this technology. The effect of demographic factors is mixed. More research on the interrelationships between livestock production, food security, and alternative meat products is recommended
Blockchain: a promising tool in tackling food waste
No full textA significant proportion of the world’s food supply is lost or wasted, with profound economic, environmental, and social consequences. This waste not only represents a significant financial burden but also wastes vital resources. Among these challenges, blockchain technology is proving to be a transformative solution. It offers decentralized systems that can revolutionize food waste management by improving transparency, traceability, and accountability throughout the supply chain. This chapter first addresses the problem of food waste management and then discusses how the unique capabilities of blockchain can address these challenges. By utilizing blockchain’s capabilities, we have the potential to decrease food waste and promote sustainability. However, for blockchain to be fully effective, the issues of scalability, standardization, and environmental protection must be overcome through continued research, innovation, and collaboration between industries and policymakers
The intersection of blockchain technology and circular economy in the agri-food sector
Full text linkA transition towards a circular economy within the agri-food sector requires the improvement of efficiency in resource utilization, the prevention of food loss or waste, whilst adopting regenerative agricultural practices. In addition to the technical challenges, the agri-food industry needs to address the food safety concerns resulting from biomass recycling processes. Increasingly, blockchain technology is gaining traction, moving towards more sustainable and precision agriculture. The blockchain is a decentralized, immutable, and shared database that records the provenance of digital assets, making it a suitable platform for traceability and food supply chain management. Despite its growing importance, the existing literature regarding these themes and the empirical evidence of blockchain-based solutions for a circular economy is rather fragmented. This paper offers a scoping review regarding the role of blockchain technology in the transition towards a circular food system. A total of 44 papers published in peer-reviewed journals were reviewed to identify new scientific insights into the application of blockchains within the agricultural sector. The results indicate that blockchain technology has a great potential in reducing food loss through optimized eco-efficiency (e.g., digitalization and integration with the Internet of Things) and by alleviating asymmetric information (by increasing transparency and reducing dependence on intermediaries). However, in the case of recycling efficiency, despite its potential, there remains a paucity of evidence regarding the use of blockchain technology in improving the residual valorization processes. Furthermore, there is a stream of literature focusing on the ability of blockchain-enabled traceability (e.g., for organic production or supply chain management). Yet, the role of blockchain traceability in the monitoring of risks from recycled biomass and the reporting of the sustainability performance in the supply chain has received scant attention within research literature. These results provide insights for supply chain management operations with the view of shifting towards a circular economy whilst also suggesting an agenda for future research areas
Can blockchain revolutionize meat production? Addressing transparency, trust, and compliance in conventional and cultured meat
Full text linkBackground
The demand for safe and sustainable meat production is increasing, necessitating innovative solutions for food safety, transparency, and regulatory compliance. Blockchain technology has emerged as a potential tool to address these challenges, particularly in the conventional meat sector. However, its application in the cultured meat industry remains underexplored, raising questions about its effectiveness in enhancing trust, traceability, and regulatory adherence in this emerging sector.
Scope and approach
This study conducts a scoping review following the PRISMA protocol to examine the role of blockchain in both conventional and cultured meat industries. The review was based on searches conducted in June 2024 using two major databases— Scopus and Web of Science —and focused on peer-reviewed literature related to blockchain applications in meat production. The search covered publications up to mid-2024 and targeted titles, abstracts, and keywords using terms such as "blockchain", "meat supply chain," and "cultured meat". After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 relevant empirical studies were selected for full-text analysis.
Key findings and conclusions
Findings indicate that blockchain significantly improves traceability and trust, particularly in ensuring product authenticity and safety. It facilitates regulatory compliance by enabling stakeholder collaboration and maintaining auditable data trails. Internet of Things integration further enhances monitoring capabilities. However, challenges such as data interoperability, high implementation costs, and the absence of standardized protocols hinder broader adoption. Overcoming these barriers is crucial to unlocking blockchain's full potential. Future research should focus on blockchain integration strategies, consumer perceptions, and regulatory frameworks to support its adoption in cultured meat production
Systems The special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954): Circular Economy for Food Systemic Design.
No full textSystems is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on systems theory in practice, including fields such as systems engineering management, systems based project planning in urban settings, health systems, environmental management and complex social systems, published monthly online by MDPI. The International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) is affiliated with Systems and its members receive a discount on the article processing charges
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