Traceability, Trasparency and Trust with blockCHAIN for FOOD
The objective of the project is the research and development of a new software product to support food traceability, aimed at digitalizing all events contributing to the certification of food products, also leveraging IoT technologies and validating the process through blockchain technology. The project also aims to assess the types and characteristics of blockchain networks best suited to meet the project’s objectives.
Project Description
The project aims to develop a new prototype product as a result of research and development activities focused on defining a complex technological solution in the field of food traceability and trackability. The goal is to fully digitalize the entire lifecycle of a product by monitoring all stages of the production chain. In addition, with the objective of ensuring product traceability according to principles of transparency and data immutability, blockchain technology will be used to exploit its inherent features.
The solution architecture will include several components designed to make the product a viable tool for real market adoption and integration into production environments where it is necessary (also in compliance with current regulatory requirements) to collect traceability data. Specifically, for companies operating in the Agrifood sector, a software layer will be developed to act as an interface to the tools used within specific operational contexts. In this way, the other components of the solution will function as a “black box,” connected to external systems via software services that can be executed through HTTP-based requests.
The system will handle data from both ERP systems used for logistics and goods management within the production chain, as well as data transmitted through dedicated sensors, which will capture measurements identified during the requirements analysis phase. The collected information will be stored in a dedicated repository designed for recording all traceability data: production steps, sensor data, and supporting documentation (such as various documents, laboratory analyses, certifications, etc.). Alongside this storage layer, a blockchain will be used to record information relevant for traceability purposes. This functionality will serve not only the final consumer but also various commercial operators, who will be able to access traceability information at any point in the supply chain to obtain data highlighting product quality, safety, and the methods used for processing and preserving raw materials. Traceability tools will include a web application and a mobile application (app), through which users can view relevant information for a specific product batch.
Expected Results
The project aims to create a new product through research and development activities, resulting in a flexible technological solution that integrates software and sensor technologies to fully digitalize food traceability processes and the entire lifecycle of a product. This solution will leverage the advantages of blockchain technology to ensure transparency in the transformation and preservation processes of raw materials. Furthermore, the project emphasizes traceability, enabling users to reconstruct the history of a product by tracing it back through the production chain to its original raw materials.
PARTNER
