A Blockchain-Based Approach for Sustainable and Intelligent Traceability in Local Agri-Food Supply Chains

This paper presents a blockchain-based approach and software prototype for the agri-food supply chain, developed within the LocalChain project. The software aims to provide a secure and transparent way to track and verify the origin, quality, and sensorial characteristics of local products. The paper discusses benefits and challenges of using blockchain technology (BCT) in the agri-food sector and proposes a model for its application in a local supply chain. The paper also discusses the adoption of a Resource-Oriented approach in scenarios involving intertwined agri-food supply chains, where the architectural and technological complexity of the blockchain system increases as actors may engage with various BCTs. Each BCT has its own technological infrastructure and programming language for Smart Contracts. Furthermore, in such cases, it is common to consider different technological solutions for data persistence, particularly when large volumes of information are present. Hence, dealing with a combination of on-chain and off-chain data storage is pivotal for saving costs and ensuring scalability.