Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate meat traceability by outlining the different perspectives and opinions of meat supply chain stakeholders (SCSs); it also evaluates potential of acceptance of blockchain technology (BCT) as a viable transparency and traceability system (TTS). Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey of 141 consumers reveals their opinions about TTSs. In addition, semi-structured interviews with seven retail managers, four government officials and one blockchain service provider (Project Provenance Ltd) provide expert insights. Findings The results demonstrate that consumers are overwhelmed by the amount and complexity of certification labels. As a TTS, BCT implementation appears to have significant positive influences on consumersâ purchasing decisions, mediated by consumersâ quality perceptions. This study reveals the discordant perspectives of different stakeholders with regard to the importance of a BCT-based TTS. Originality/value This study investigates current TTSs and certification labels, and probes customer perception of a potential BCT-based solution for meat traceability. Changes to supply chainsâ mentality and the active establishment of trust in BCT applications are needed. Firms should take both holistic and altruistic views to deal with the challenges of TTSs in the meat supply chain. The adoption of BCT, in combination with DNA coding, seems promising as a solution to many of the issues that currently plague TTSs.
In response to food contamination scandals worldwide, retail giant Walmart is tackling food safety in the supply chain using blockchain technology. In 2016, it established the Walmart Food Safety Collaboration Center in Beijing and plans to invest $25 million over five years to research global food safety (Yiannas and Liu, 2017). Using IBMâs blockchain solution based on Hyperledger Fabric, Walmart has successfully completed two blockchain pilots: pork in China and mangoes in the Americas (IBM, 2017). With a farm-to-table approach, Walmartâs blockchain solution reduced time for tracking mango origins from seven days to 2.2 seconds and promoted greater transparency across Walmartâs food supply chain (Yiannas, 2017). IBM called it âcomplete end-to-end traceabilityâ (McDermott, 2017). The case highlights the challenges of implementing blockchain technology in the food supply chain and the opportunities for deploying blockchain solutions throughout the global food ecosystem to increase safety and reduce waste.
The work conducted for this thesis is meant to benefit both industry and the scientific community. Creating an assessment for blockchain technology in a specific industrial (supply chain) setting and later expand to a more general setting might prove useful for companies planning to use blockchain in the future or wanting to understand blockchain technology better. There is scarce academic research on blockchain technology in fields besides computer science and finance. Expanding the research territory is key to understand this new technological trend and in the case of supply chain management, blockchain technology might prove to be a key technological development in the years to come. This thesis is formed as an assessment of the strategic fit of blockchain technology in Norwegian fish supply chains. Further, the key findings from this specific strategic fit is used to find indicators for which types of supply chains blockchain technology could bring positive strategic implications. The thesis is structured so that relevant scientific theory and data is presented before making an assessment of the strategic fit and discussing the implications. Using the theory on supply chain management Fisher (1997) and Lee (2002) and key supply chain management objectives together with theory on innovation, through Rogers (1962), the following research questions were answered.\n\nRQ1: Why is blockchain technology beneficial for fish supply chains?\nRQ1.1: How is it beneficial?\nRQ1.2: Does the findings indicate benefits for other supply chains?\n\nThe research arrived at the conclusion that Norwegian fish supply chains might benefit from blockchain technology. This is mainly a conclusion drawn by the fact that Norwegian aquaculture producers were viewed to have lean supply chains and have functional products in the material flows as found through the models of Fisher (1997) and Lee (2002), and that the supply chain management objectives cost, quality and sustainability, with the cost and quality being integral to lean supply chain practices, were found to get the highest advantages. In addition, blockchain technology was found to benefit lean supply chains in general, especially food supply chains.
Halal supply chains are vulnerable due to their credence quality attributes, importance of maintaining halal integrity throughout the supply chain, need to avoid doubt, lack of control of food norms, and sensitivity of the Muslim consumer towards halal. These vulnerabilities make halal supply chains complex to design, manage, and optimise. Transparency of halal supply chains is needed in order to ensure trust and authenticity of a halal brand. The principle of a shared database that is safe, open and verifiable without a central operator is an attractive proposition to embed trust and authenticity for halal food, cosmetics, home care, and pharmaceuticals.