Barriers to implementation of blockchain technology in agricultural supply chain

TL;DR

This paper examines the barriers hindering the adoption of blockchain and IoT in agricultural supply chains, emphasizing the need for infrastructure, education, and policy support to enhance food safety and efficiency.

Contribution

It analyzes the specific challenges to implementing blockchain and IoT in agriculture and suggests strategies for governments and corporations to facilitate adoption.

Findings

Lack of infrastructure and skills impede technology adoption.

Government and corporate support are crucial for implementation.

Developing economies can benefit from local sustainable agricultural ecosystems.

Abstract

Emerging technologies, such as Blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT), have had an immense role in propelling the agricultural industry towards the fourth agricultural revolution. Blockchain and IoT can greatly improve the traceability, efficiency, and safety of food along the supply chain. Given these contributions, there are many barriers to widespread adoption of this technology, including a deficit in many workers' ability to understand and effectively use this technology in addition to a lack of infrastructure to educate and support these workers. This paper discusses the barriers to adoption of blockchain and IoT technology in the agricultural supply chain. The authors analyse the impact of Blockchain and IoT in the food supply chain and methods in which governments and corporations can become more adaptable. Through the reduction in imports and protection of demand for local farmers, developing economies can create local sustainable agricultural ecosystems. Furthermore, the use of both public and private Research and Development can greatly contribute to the global knowledge on new technologies and improve many aspects of the food supply chain. In conclusion, both governments and corporations have a big role to play in the increased implementation of progressive technologies and the overall improvement of the food supply chain along with it.