Enhancing Agricultural Supply Chain Traceability with Blockchain, Smart Contracts, and E-Labelling

Abstract

Africa’s agricultural sector employs over 60% of the continent’s population but faces challenges in product traceability and food security due to limited infrastructure and information asymmetries. This paper presents a blockchain-based traceability framework specifically designed for African agricultural supply chains, integrating smart contracts with electronic labelling (E-labelling) technologies to address socioeconomic constraints. We developed a decentralized system using Ethereum blockchain platform, implemented through Solidity smart contracts and a NextJS web application, optimized for low-bandwidth environments common in sub-Saharan Africa. The framework incorporates automated QR code generation enabling smallholder farmers to participate in transparent supply chains without extensive technical expertise. A comprehensive analysis of 13 blockchain applications revealed gaps in addressing African-specific challenges such as limited connectivity, multilingual requirements, and diverse regulatory environments. The proposed system is evaluated using the ADJENDE agribusiness case study design parameters from Burkina Faso, demonstrating practical applicability in West African contexts. Experimental validation shows functional product traceability with average transaction processing times of 20-25 seconds and gas costs of approximately 6,000,000 units per transaction. The prototype demonstrates capability for farmers to register crop information, track processing stages, and provide consumers with verifiable product authenticity through QR code scanning. This work presents a blockchain framework prototype designed for African agricultural contexts, addressing critical challenges of food security, rural economic empowerment, and consumer protection across the continent.