Blockchain-Driven IoT for Food Traceability With an Integrated Consensus Mechanism

Abstract

Food traceability has been one of the emerging blockchain applications in recent years, for improving the areas of anti-counterfeiting and quality assurance. Existing food traceability systems do not guarantee a high level of system reliability, scalability, and information accuracy. Moreover, the traceability process is time-consuming and complicated in modern supply chain networks. To alleviate these concerns, blockchain technology is promising to create a new ontology for supply chain traceability. However, most consensus mechanisms and data flow in blockchain are developed for cryptocurrency, not for supply chain traceability; hence, simply applying blockchain technology to food traceability is impractical. In this paper, a blockchain-IoT-based food traceability system (BIFTS) is proposed to integrate the novel deployment of blockchain, IoT technology, and fuzzy logic into a total traceability shelf life management system for managing perishable food. To address the needs for food traceability, lightweight and vaporized characteristics are deployed in the blockchain, while an integrated consensus mechanism that considers shipment transit time, stakeholder assessment, and shipment volume is developed. The data flow of blockchain is then aligned to the deployment of IoT technologies according to the level of traceable resource units. Subsequently, the decision support can be established in the food supply chain by using reliable and accurate data for shelf life adjustment, and by using fuzzy logic for quality decay evaluation. INDEX TERMS Food traceability, blockchain, consensus mechanism, Internet of Things, shelf life management.

Internet of Things (IoT): Opportunities, issues and challenges towards a smart and sustainable future

“…The block chain-IoT-based food traceability system (BIFTS) to integrate the novel deployment of block chain, IoT technology, and fuzzy logic into a total traceability shelf life management system for the managing of perishable food, Fig. 37 was proposed in ( Tsang et al., 2019 ). Challenges in the adoption of the proposed framework in the food industry are analysed and future research planned to improve the proposed work.…”

A Novel Visual Analysis Method of Food Safety Risk Traceability Based on Blockchain

“…For example, Hong et al [21] implemented a traceability system based on the Internet of Things and blockchain technology. Tsang et al [22] used the Internet of Things to achieve traceability through integrated consensus mechanisms. Through the application of blockchain, the environment of the food supply chain has been greatly improved [23].…”

Blockchain-based human resource management practices for mitigating skills and competencies gap in workforce

“…The use of blockchain technology can increase productivity, decrease operational IT cost and increase security. 41 Research on blockchain in the field of food traceability, shows the use of the integrated consensus mechanism in the Internet of Thing blockchain technology to help customers and supply chain stakeholders to make their decisions, 38 More comprehensively, the latest research on blockchain technology in an integrated manner from theory to application in the energy sector, recommends that blockchain technology is the best way for energy decentralization to maintain energy sustainability in the future. 39 Hence, it can be concluded that given the skills gap faced in a number of industry sectors and across a number of countries, blockchain can be used as enabler to solve this problem.…”