UK Food Standards Agency completes first blockchain pilot
This is the first time blockchain has been used as a regulatory tool to ensure compliance in the food sector, according to FSA.
"This is a really exciting development. We thought that blockchain technology might add real value to a part of the food industry, such as a slaughterhouse, whose work requires a lot of inspection and collation of results," said Sian Thomas, Head of Information Management.
"Our approach has been to develop data standards with industry that will make theory reality and I'm delighted that we've been able to show that blockchain does indeed work in this part of the food industry. I think there are great opportunities now for industry and government to work together to expand and develop this approach," Mr. Sian Thomas added.
During this first pilot, both FSA and the slaughterhouse have received access to the data provided by blockchain technology, which gave, as a result, the benefit of improved transparency across the food supply chain.
A second pilot is expected to be launched in July, FSA hopes this pilot will give permission to farmers to access data about animals from their farm.
"The next action will be for further work to replicate this in other plants and ensure that all those across the chain get the full benefit of the new way data is managed and accessed as ‘permissioned’ data to the FSA, slaughterhouse and farmer," FSA's statement read.
Furthermore, FSA says that if the second pilot will be successful, blockchain technology will become a must and will have to be led by the meat industry "because the current data model is limited to the collection and communication of inspection results."
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