Blockchain and more - Algorithm driven food traceability

Food safety and quality assurance has become increasingly difficult in times of growing global flows of goods. In particular, the traceability of food turns out to be very challenging for retailers, resellers and state surveillance authorities. The reasons for this range from the proof of simple, but harmless modifications to the detection of health-endangering substances, bacteria or viruses. In addition, it concerns the verification of food authenticity, for example the correct declaration of the geographical origin, variety or cultivation. Such quality parameters justify higher prices and therefore, they are often in the focus of food fraudsters. Some of those qualities can be monitored by objective analytical methods, but not all of them. For ensuring the traceability of food trade networks blockchain algorithms incorporate a high potential, as data can be stored in an unmodifiable way and enabling quick tracking across all process steps, so that stakeholders as well as commodities or semi-finished items can be identified much faster. Areas of applications on one hand and limitations on the other hand are discussed in this review article and reflected with alternative strategies.