Blockchain is playing an increasing role in the global poultry sector as companies seek to improve traceability.
The American food security company Neogen recently announced a partnership with the blockchain company ripe.io. Ripe is a food traceability blockchain that aims to build confidence in supply chains, in order to improve brand integrity and greater food security.
Thanks to blockchain technology, the traceability of all kinds of products, including poultry, can be ensured. Photo Roel Dijkstra
Check the authenticity of premium products
Neogen currently offers genomics services for DNA testing of poultry and eggs as well as other farm animals, enabling farmers to meet the growing demand for sustainable, traceable and high quality meat. Neogen CEO John Adent said blockchain has enormous potential to verify the authenticity of premium products, such as cage-free eggs, and improve the traceability of problems requiring correction, such as those that lead to product recalls.
IBM’s Food Trust is another blockchain platform used by egg and poultry companies to strengthen traceability. The French company, Groupe Avril, announced last month that it had joined the IBM platform and would use it to differentiate its brand of Matines eggs from consumers. The blockchain platform provides improved information and traceability around its ranges of organic, outdoor, outdoor, soil and standard eggs. This initiative is part of an effort started last year to reposition the brand around several new commitments, including:
- Hens raised without antibiotic treatment (outside and standard range)
- Fed with 100% French cereals
- Specific farming practices, controlled by an independent body
Blockchain optimizes export certification
IBM is also developing a proof of concept of blockchain (POC) for the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to help the agency study how technology can optimize export certification systems. FSIS guarantees that the commercial supply of meat, poultry and egg products to the United States is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled and packaged.
