Blockchain used to authenticate exported mānuka honey from NZ
- 10 April, 2019 19:31
Honey bee gathering pollen from a white manuka flower (ID 59583100 © | Dreamstime.com)
Blockchain is the ideal tool to bring transparency and accountability to the supply chain as it acts as a single immutable ledger that all parties can see
TrackBack has successfully tracked genuine mānuka honey from its origin in New Zealand to its destination in Shanghai, China using blockchain technology.
All events along the supply chain, as well as evidence of the company’s testing protocol to verify grade were recorded to the blockchain.
This means the recipients in China were able to verify that the jars of honey they received were the same jars that had been packaged in New Zealand.
The successful proof of application was the result of a collaboration between TrackBack, AsureQuality and NZ Post using mānuka honey from The True Honey Co.
TrackBack, which is part of the Centrality blockchain group, provides complete traceability to ensure global confidence in product authenticity, integrity and provenance.
Semanie Cato, head of business development at TrackBack, says TrackBack allows any business to build a traceability system quickly and easily to safeguard the value of its unique product offering. This, in turn, gives confidence to customers and builds trust with consumers.
“Building a trusted food framework in New Zealand will allow the food industry to elevate its value proposition: from commodity to items of desire,” Cato, in a statement.
Using blockchain, suppliers can differentiate their premium products from cheaper imitations and counterfeits to provide another layer of protection against counterfeit, protect brand reputation and differentiate New Zealand exports from the competition.
“We’re aiming to build that Sunday market connection between producers and international consumers, by providing blockchain services to authenticate supplier claims and make any product’s journey visible,” says Sermaine.
“TrackBack gives everyday consumers the ability to understand exactly what they are purchasing, eating or wearing in a way that has been largely lost in the internet age," adds Sermaine. "We do this through our place in Centrality’s ecosystem and blockchain expertise.”
TrackBack says its core technology enables any company to build trust for its customers.
“Blockchain is the ideal tool to bring transparency and accountability to the supply chain as it acts as a single immutable ledger that all parties can see,” says Dene Green, NZ Post international general manager.
Following the success of this trial, TrackBack says it is working towards a commercially available technology to secure the authenticity, integrity and provenance of New Zealand made premium products.
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