Enhancing Food Security with Blockchain: Developing a Web3 Application to Strengthen National Food System Resilience

Abstract

Food and nutrition insecurity is a growing global challenge, exacerbated by crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions in supply chains caused by geopolitical events. This study introduces a hybrid Web3-Web2 system to enhance food security through monitoring the transaction-based food system at a national level. The system comprises elements based on blockchain technology and business intelligence (BI) in the state of Israel. By combining the decentralization, transparency, and immutability of blockchain with some functionalities of Web2 applications, the system enables real-time monitoring and optimization of Israel’s food supply chain. The blockchain component, a natural candidate for storing transaction-based data, ensures data integrity, traceability, and trust among stakeholders, while the BI dashboards facilitate data-driven decision-making and efficient resource allocation. The system implements smart contracts to automate compliance verification while maintaining transaction privacy through strategic data partitioning between public and private storage. The system also leverages graph-based network analysis to identify inefficiencies, minimize food waste, and enhance supply chain sustainability. We discuss how technology can address food security challenges and outline pathways for implementation, offering a model for other nations facing similar issues.