Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

Expectation Mapping – Use of Block Chain in Supply Chains

A systematic literature review was carried out to investigate the current state-of-the-art of use of blockchain technology (BCT) in agro-food supply chains to increase traceability and transparency, screening and reviewing about 550 academic articles. The detailed analysis of these papers provided insight into the appropriate uses, and suitable implementations, of BCT in supply chains. Results included the following:

  • Lack of mature applications: BCT is becoming mature as a technology. However, its practical application has so far only been tested for physical asset supply chains traceability.
  • Difficulty of BCT past the prototyping stage: Many supply chain transparency initiatives utilising blockchain may reach a prototype phase but are subsequently not heard from again. This indicates that the technology is interesting from a development and research point of view but is not yet delivering on its promises from a business perspective.
  • BCT may not be necessary: Some such projects have achieved laudable milestones by digitalising parts of the supply chain, providing sensor data and data from other systems to blockchains, thus making the data available and the supply chain more transparent. However, closer examination often reveals that the BCT itself was not necessary, indeed, a shared or open data platform could have served the same purpose, but the novelty of BCT spurred the digitalisation groundwork.
  • Need for more research: The proper use of BCT in SCM requires additional research to map BCT's capabilities to supply chain management needs.
Source Project
WATSON
Ongoing | 2023-2026
Main funding source
Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Ireland, France, Italy, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Other, Portugal, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Cyprus, Belgium, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria
Project details

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