Abstract:

Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger that is secure, transparent, and immutable. It stores data in blocks that are linked together in a chain. It can be used to create a decentralized database that is tamper-proof and allows transparent information sharing within a business network. These unique advantages of blockchain technology have been recognized by the food industry and is considered as the technology that has the potential to revolutionize food supply chain management, enhancing traceability and transparency.

The food supply chain is a complex network of interconnected activities, processes, and entities involved in the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food products. It includes all the stages and stakeholders through which food travels from the initial point of production to the final point of consumption such as producers, processors, distributors, retailers, regulatory authorities, and consumers.

Effective monitoring of the food supply chain plays a significant role in food quality assurance and certification, so that it can ensured that companies comply with certification procedures, such as ISO 22000, Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG), Organic Products, and Fairtrade. The application of blockchain technology in the food supply chain can help in this direction, so as to ensure that the products meet regulatory requirements. However, many actors of the food supply chain, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), still lack the knowledge, awareness and skills needed to exploit its benefits effectively. This knowledge and skills gap is a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of blockchain in food supply chain management.

Addressing this gap requires a multi-faceted approach. Governments, industry associations, and educational institutions can play a crucial role in providing SMEs with access to training programs, workshops, and informational resources tailored to their needs. The purpose of this paper is to present the co-creation journey of the course “Blockchain Applications for Food Quality Assurance and Certification” that has been developed in the framework of the EU project TrustFood. The objective of this course is to provide to interested participants, with a focus on SMEs in the food supply chain, the knowledge and practical skills required to design, develop, test, assess, adapt, deploy and adopt blockchain-based solutions that improve transparency, traceability, and trust in the food supply chain of their interest. The course is divided into six lessons with appropriate assessment quizzes, offering a step-by-step guide for the exploitation of blockchain applications in the food quality assurance and certification sector.

Acknowledgement:
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement N° 101100804. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Keywords:

Blockchain, food supply chain, digital training, digital education, agrifood sector, food quality assurance, food quality certification.