Blockchain for Supply Chain in Agriculture: Enhancing Transparency and Efficiency
The agricultural supply chain is a complex network involving farmers, suppliers, distributors, retailers, and consumers. Ensuring transparency, efficiency, and security within this system is critical for food safety and sustainability. One of the most promising technological solutions to these challenges is blockchain technology. Blockchain offers decentralized, immutable, and transparent records of transactions, reducing fraud, improving traceability, and enhancing trust among stakeholders. Researchers at Telkom University are actively exploring blockchain applications in agriculture to revolutionize supply chain management. This article examines the role of blockchain in agricultural supply chains, its benefits, challenges, and future prospects.
Understanding Blockchain Technology
Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology (DLT) that records transactions securely and transparently. Each transaction is stored in a "block," which is cryptographically linked to previous blocks, forming an unalterable chain. This decentralized nature ensures that records cannot be manipulated, making blockchain an ideal solution for enhancing supply chain integrity.