Can Blockchain Be Used in Agriculture?

Today, it’s no longer news that blockchain technology is taking over many industries. Yes, we’ve seen it disrupt the financial sector, hospitality, healthcare, real estate, logistics, online advertising and more. But hey, do you know that this revolutionary technology can also transform agriculture? 

Yes, with the right applications, blockchain can deliver real value to growers. For the most part, blockchain can provide a single, unalterable source of truth about the condition of your farm, inventory, and contracts. So yes, as a farmer, you may no longer have to use countless apps, spreadsheets or pen and paper to record important data. 

In a nutshell; blockchain technology can reduce inefficiencies while saving time and energy in the agriculture value chain. With blockchain’s ability to improve automation, digitization, and food tracking, there’s no doubt that the technology is a must for modern agriculture.

For starters, blockchain technology can improve traceability of crops and deliver better outcomes. Essentially, with a blockchain ledger, you’ll get to know the status of your crops right from planting to delivery. And the good thing is, every information will be secure and available in real time. As most growers already know, today’s consumers are more interested in organic foods. And of course, the chances of meeting their expectations are higher if farmers can provide proper documentation of the supply chain involved in those foods. So basically, food safety is a must.

Let’s face it; the process of monitoring the quality of crops (right from harvest to delivery) has never been easy. It’s basically a huge challenge for farmers and growers throughout the world. But of course, the good news is, the power of blockchain technology can be harnessed in this regard. 

Interestingly, IBM is already working on IoT that makes it possible for growers to monitor soil quality, irrigation, and pests in a precise and highly efficient manner. It’s also good to point out that there are initiatives to leverage sensors to track the quality of stored crops over time. Of course, the ultimate goal of these applications is to automate and digitize just about everything that has to do with record keeping and quality control.

The good news is, most of these incredible innovations are presently happening in modern-day agriculture. For the most part, these sensors can gather data automatically in real-time. And of course, provide quick and easy access to growers who need the information to perform various farm operations.

(excerpt from text on https://www.kryptographe.com/applications-blockchain-agriculture/)