Journal of Agricultural Big Data ›› 2022, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (1): 25-34.doi: 10.19788/j.issn.2096-6369.220102

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Progress of Research to Develop a Traceability System for Fresh Agricultural Products Using Blockchain Technology

Zhe Zhang1,2,3(), Xinting Yang1,2,3, Helong Yu1, Shanshan Li1, Chuanheng Sun2,3()   

  1. 1.College of Information Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
    2.National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture, Beijing 100097, China
    3.National Engineering Research Center for Quality and Safety Traceability Technology and Application of Agricultural Products, Beijing 100097, China
  • Received:2022-01-14 Online:2022-03-26 Published:2022-06-29
  • Contact: Chuanheng Sun E-mail:zhestudy@163.com;sunch@nercita.org.cn

Abstract:

With continually improving living standards, the quality and safety of fresh agricultural products has come under public scrutiny. Fresh produce traceability is an indispensable and important link in the process of guaranteeing food quality and safety and is also an effective measure for improving consumers’ trust in food products. A blockchain database records and stores data within a chain structure. Using an encryption algorithm, a consensus mechanism, smart contracts, and other technologies, a blockchain provides an efficient solution to the challenge of ensuring data privacy and trust in multi-party cooperation. A traceability system for agricultural products that is based on blockchain technology entails the advantages of improving the transparency and efficiency of production, processing, transportation, and sales processes; enhancing data reliability; and reflecting data traceability. It can also eliminate unnecessary intermediaries in the agricultural product supply chain and enhance consumers’ confidence in traceable agricultural products. This paper introduces the blockchain and its technical features and presents an analysis of the entire supply chain for fresh agricultural products from planting and breeding, to production and processing, to logistics and transportation, through to distribution and sales. It proposes a traceability framework for fresh agricultural products that is based on blockchain and Internet of things devices and equipment and summarizes progress made in applying blockchain technology in the traceability of fruit and vegetables, livestock and poultry meat, and aquatic products. Moreover, it identifies key problems currently constraining the traceability of blockchain agricultural products, such as the low acceptance of blockchain links by consumers, concerns about user privacy and the confidentiality of transactions between market subjects, and an inability to ensure the authenticity of source data. Lastly, it discusses future developmental directions of fresh agricultural product traceability using blockchain technology, which can guide and inspire further in-depth research in this area.

Key words: fresh agricultural products, fresh agricultural product traceability, blockchain, traceability framework, food safety, Agri-food supply chain

CLC Number: 

  • F511.41