Knowing the origin of food allows us to monitor and regulate its safety. By tracking the source, we can identify potential risks such as contamination, pesticide use, or improper handling and take appropriate measures to mitigate them. This information helps ensure that the food we consume is safe for consumption, reducing the chances of foodborne illnesses and promoting public health.
However, the tracking process can be difficult and costly, and it can be difficult for consumers to tell exactly where their produce is from and whether it has been exposed to any contaminants as part of the transportation chain. Enter Trace, an innovative application developed by Gate2Chain and IBM and powered by the BSV Blockchain.
The importance of tracking our food
Understanding the origin of food enables us to assess its quality. Different regions or countries may have different agricultural practices, regulations, or standards. By tracing the origin, we can make informed decisions about the quality of the food and its compliance with certain standards or certifications. This helps consumers make choices based on their preferences, dietary requirements, or ethical considerations.
Tracking food sources allows consumers to evaluate the environmental impact of food production and transportation. It helps in detailing the carbon footprint associated with the supply chain, including factors such as distance travelled, energy consumption, and emissions. By being aware of the origin, consumers can make choices that align with their sustainability goals, favouring locally sourced or organic products, for example, and reducing the overall ecological footprint.
Knowing where our food comes from also empowers us to support local farmers and businesses. By purchasing locally produced food, consumers can contribute to the local economy, help sustain small-scale farming operations, and foster community resilience. Additionally, buying locally often means fresher produce, as the time and distance between harvest and consumption are minimised.
Creating a digital twin
Trace, leveraging the BSV blockchain, eliminates the need for native tokens, miner fees, and the typical volatility encountered with blockchain technology. With the Trace platform, users can generate a digital twin, akin to a token, for any object and securely store essential data within it.
By harnessing the immutable nature of the blockchain, the presence of a digital twin enables the electronic management of physical objects, ensuring transparency for all participants within the supply chain.
Through the digital twin, customers can authenticate and trace the origin of an item throughout its entire journey, providing tangible value to the intangible notion of ownership. In the event of theft, marking the digital twin as stolen renders the item useless to the thief, similar to how a stolen credit card becomes ineffectual.
A clear use-case
Gate2Chain recently demonstrated the power of its Trace platform and its food tracking capabilities at a high-end dinner function in London in May. Hosted by billionaire tech entrepreneur, Calvin Ayre, founder of Ayre Group, and curated by renowned Michelin star chef and co-founder of HIDE, Ollie Dabbous, guests were given a unique opportunity to trace the journey of the ingredients which were served.
Through a five-course dining experience, Ollie Dabbous and his team, known for their support of local producers and focus on seasonal ingredients, demonstrated how essential elements could be effortlessly traced and documented. This allowed diners to verify the origin and authenticity of the products they enjoyed.
However, Trace is not just limited to food products and can be across any supply chain in industries such as consumer goods, fashion, and manufacturing. The primary objective is to solve everyday problems for real-world businesses and simplify the integration of blockchain technologies into business processes, Gate2Chain says.
You can find out more about Gate2Chain and its Trace application here.
