Blockchain-Based Frameworks for Food Traceability: A Systematic Review

Abstract

With the rise of globalization and technological competition, the food supply chain has grown more complex due to the multiple players and factors involved in the chain. Traditional systems fail to offer effective and reliable traceability solutions considering the increasing requirement for accountability and transparency in the food supply chain. Blockchain technology has been claimed to offer the food industry a transformative future. The inherent features of blockchain, including immutability and transparency, create a dependable and secure system for tracking food products across the whole supply chain, ensuring total control over their traceability from the origin to the final consumer. This research offers a comprehensive overview of multiple models to understand how the integration of blockchain and other digital technologies has transformed the food supply chain. This comprehensive systematic review of blockchain-based food-supply-chain frameworks aimed to uncover the capability of blockchain technology to revolutionize the industry and examined the current landscape of blockchain-based food traceability solutions to identify areas for improvement. Furthermore, the research investigates recent advancements and investigates how blockchain aligns with other emerging technologies of Industry 4.0 and Web 3.0. Blockchain technology plays an important role in improving food traceability and supply-chain operations. Potential synergies between blockchain and other emerging technologies of Industry 4.0 and Web 3.0 are digitizing food supply chains, which results in better management, automation, efficiencies, sustainability, verifiability, auditability, accountability, traceability, transparency, tracking, monitoring, response times and provenance across food supply chains.

Evaluation of Blockchain Networks’ Scalability Limitations in Low-Powered Internet of Things (IoT) Sensor Networks

“…This study has used test bed experimental results and quantitative analysis methods. A real test bed was used to collect experimental scalability data and evaluate data using statistical software tools [27]. This research aims to analyse the scalability limitations of blockchain-based IoT sensor networks that can lead to network bottlenecks [28].…”

The Future of Food

“…Additional research and universal evaluation models are required for seamless integration with the IoT, addressing issues such as food adulteration and authentication [50]. Furthermore, when integrated with emerging technologies, like AI, big data analytics, RFIDs, NFC, IoTs, cloud computing, and analytical methods for the detection of foodborne pathogens, blockchain can further digitalize food supply chains, enhancing management, automation, efficiency, sustainability, and verifiability [51]. This integration holds transformative promise for the food sector, particularly retailers that urge suppliers to embrace blockchain to enhance supply chain security and minimize food risks [43].…”

“…Retail formats that are expected to expand include e-commerce, driven by convenience and personalization, as well as sustainable and ethical retail emphasizing eco-friendly practices. Technology-driven stores and direct-to-consumer brands also represent growth areas in the retail industry [42][43][44][45][46][50][51][52][53].…”

Digital Anti-Aging Healthcare: An Overview of the Applications of Digital Technologies in Diet Management

“…Recently, blockchain-based diet management platforms have gained popularity in response to concerns about food safety and quality affecting consumers’ health and the effectiveness of diet management. In general, these platforms provide a distributed ledger for all participants in the food supply chain, creating an immutable record and real-time view of all transactions between involved parties [ 134 ]. Although many functionalities are embedded in blockchain-based frameworks, effective diet management is achievable when the solution focuses on food safety and traceability, allowing the stakeholders to protect their businesses while establishing better risk management practices.…”