#IBM, #Walmart and #TsinghuaUniversity are to work together on a 16-week project to improve the way food is tracked, transported and sold to consumers across China. They will use technology designed to generate transparency and efficiency in supply chain record-keeping. The partners have worked alongside each other on a variety of projects in the past. One example is the work by IBM and Tsinghua University on Green Horizons to address environmental challenges. Blockchain provides a record of transactions which are grouped in blocks that cannot be altered. Food products can be digitally tracked from suppliers to store shelves and consumers. Alternative to current methods IBM said it is an alternative to traditional paper tracking and manual inspection systems, which can leave supply chains vulnerable to inaccuracies. The firm added it could create a new model for food traceability, supply chain transparency and auditability. "As advocates of promoting greater transparency in the food system for our customers, we look forward to working with IBM and Tsinghua University to explore how this technology might be used as a more effective food traceability solution," said Frank Yiannas, VP, Food Safety at Walmart. Digital product information such as farm origin details, batch numbers, factory and processing data, expiration dates, storage temperatures and shipping detail are digitally connected to food items and the information is entered into the blockchain at each step of the process. The information is agreed upon by all members of the business network; once there is a consensus, it becomes a permanent record that can't be altered. Each piece of information provides data points that could reveal food safety issues with the product. IBM told us that food safety is a global challenge in the 21st century.
http://mobile.foodqualitynews.com/R-D/Walmart-partners-with-IBM-in-China-on-supply-chain
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