The Blockchain Revolution in Food Safety
Walmart is riding the blockchain wave like a pro surfer catching the perfect wave! The retail giant, in collaboration with the Linux Foundation’s Hyperledger Fabric and IBM, is testing a food traceability system that promises to drastically reduce the time needed to trace food sources.
Speeding Up Food Traceability
Can you believe it? What used to take a whopping seven days can now be done in just 2.2 seconds! This transformation is being showcased through two proof-of-concept projects. The first focuses on tracing the origins of mangoes sold in the U.S., while the second deals with pork available in China. It’s like going from snail mail to instant messaging in the world of food tracing!
A Lesson from History: The Melamine Scandal
So, what’s fueling this blockchain initiative? Let’s take a painful stroll down memory lane. Back in 2008, an infamous food safety scandal involving contaminated milk shocked China. Over 300,000 people were affected, leading to severe health issues, including kidney stones. By improving traceability with blockchain, Walmart aims to avoid such tragedies and enable quick responses to food safety crises.
The Future of Walmart’s Food Supply Chain
Walmart claims the new system will enable it to trace over 25 products from five different suppliers. And they’re making it mandatory for vegetable suppliers to join the blockchain party. Karl Bedwell, a big cheese at Walmart Technology, stated, “Creating a traceability system for the entire food supply ecosystem has been a challenge for years.” Let’s hope it doesn’t take another decade to pull this off!
Going Global with Chinese Ventures
Meanwhile, Walmart China is busy laying bricks on the blockchain pathway. Partnering with various firms, they’ve launched a platform on the VeChainThor blockchain. Initially rolled out with 23 products, the platform plans to expand its offerings to include fresh meat, rice, mushrooms, and cooking oil.
Setting Industry Standards with Food Trust
In 2018, Walmart jumped into bed with nine other major companies, forming a blockchain consortium under IBM’s guidance called the Food Trust Blockchain. The vision? To create a global food safety net that streamlines food recalls and improves consumer trust.
Preventing Future Recalls with Enhanced Tracking
As history has shown, when food recalls happen, time is of the essence. Back in 2018, a nasty E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce made waves, with nearly 200 infections. Experts believe that had Walmart’s blockchain system been in play, the source of contamination could have been identified in a flash!
Beyond Food: Walmart’s Tech Ventures
But wait, there’s more! Walmart isn’t stopping at just food tracing. They’re also exploring drug distribution and even drone technology! Collaborating with KPMG and Merck, they’re set on creating a blockchain pilot for the drug supply chain. And if that’s not enough, they’re developing a sophisticated proof-of-concept for drone communications!
Learning from Others: A Competitive Landscape
Walmart isn’t the only fish in the blockchain sea. Companies like Anheuser Busch InBev and Alibaba have already made strides with blockchain tech. AB InBev is partnering with African farmers, facilitating them to track their agricultural sales through blockchain. Perhaps Walmart’s about to take notes!
