News

This FAO publication provides a comprehensive introduction to blockchain, covers smart contracts, and explores how they relate to blockchain with an example of their use in seafood value chains. It examines major development and operational considerations for blockchain applications. It also analyses the seafood supply chain with considerations on flag, coastal, port, processing and market countries. The study identifies general control elements (critical tracking events and corresponding key data elements) that form the basis for traceability monitoring and acquisition, and summarises th suitability of blockchain application. It also investigates considerations for legality, transparency, species fraud and food safety. 

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The global seafood supply chain handles an enormous volume of products, half of which is caught wild, and there is also widespread illegal fishing feeding into this supply chain. It is one of the most fragmented food supply chains, and transparency into its actors and the movement of products has been notoriously elusive and difficult to manage. There is now increasing pressure from consumers, retailers, government and watchdog organisations to improve transparency. This article discusses the problems of having a fragmented supply chain, and the pressures of improving it, and the consequences of not doing so.

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