Blockchain Technology in Food Supply Chain

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Acknowledgement
• Table of Figures
• Abbreviations
• Abstract
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Foundation of Blockchain Technology
• 2.1 History and Definition
• 2.2 Public versus Private Blockchain
• 2.3 Peer-to-peer (P2P) Network
• 2.4.1 Hashing in the blockchain
• 2.4.2 Public-Private key
• 2.4.3 Digital Signatures
• 2.5 Consensus Algorithm
• 2.5.1 Proof of Work (PoW)
• 2.5.2 Proof of Stake (POS)
• 2.6 Smart Contracts
• 3 Food Supply chain
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 The Actors in a Food Supply Chain
• 3.3 Current Issues in Food Supply Chains
• 3.3.1 Food Safety
• 3.3.2 Food Waste
• 3.3.3 Growing Regulations
• 3.3.4 Increasing Supply Chain Costs
• 3.4 Food Scandals
• 3.5 Summary
• 4 Blockchain-based Food Supply Chain
• 4.1 Traceability in Food Supply Chain
• 4.1.1 Traceability in the Seafood Industry
• 4.1.2 Meat and Poultry Traceability
• 4.2 Transaction Automation with Smart Contracts
• 4.3 Advantages of Blockchain from the Actor's Perspective
• 4.3.1 Producer's (Farmer) Perspective
• 4.3.2 Food Processer's Perspective
• 4.3.3 Food Trader's Perspective
• 4.3.4 Consumer's Perspective
• 4.4 Challenges in Implementation
• 4.4.1 High implementation Cost
• 4.4.2 Operational Challenges
• 4.4.3 Sustainability Challenges
• 4.5 The Case of Walmart
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis explores the application of blockchain technology in the food supply chain. It aims to assess the potential benefits and challenges of implementing blockchain for improving food safety, traceability, and efficiency. The thesis delves into the foundational principles of blockchain technology and analyzes its relevance in the context of the food industry.

• Blockchain Technology in Food Supply Chain
• Food Safety and Traceability
• Smart Contracts and Transaction Automation
• Challenges and Opportunities for Blockchain Implementation
• Case Study: Walmart's Blockchain Initiative

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1 introduces the concept of blockchain technology in the context of food supply chain management, highlighting its potential for improving food safety, traceability, and efficiency.
• Chapter 2 delves into the foundational principles of blockchain technology, exploring its history, core concepts, and key features such as cryptography, consensus algorithms, and smart contracts.
• Chapter 3 examines the structure and challenges of the traditional food supply chain, analyzing current issues such as food safety, waste, regulations, and rising costs. The chapter also explores the impact of food scandals on consumer trust and industry practices.
• Chapter 4 investigates the application of blockchain technology in the food supply chain, focusing on its potential to enhance traceability, automate transactions, and improve transparency. The chapter examines the benefits of blockchain for various stakeholders, including producers, processors, traders, and consumers. It also explores challenges related to implementation costs, operational complexities, and sustainability.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Blockchain, food supply chain, food safety, traceability, smart contracts, transaction automation, consensus algorithms, food waste, regulations, implementation challenges, sustainability, case study, Walmart.