Tracking Aquaculture Products from Fark to Fork: The Role of IoT, QR Codes, RFID and Blockchain

Cold chain management and traceability of seafood are essential to preserve product quality and maintain transparency in the aquaculture value chain. Monitoring environmental conditions prevents spoilage, while transparency allows consumers to verify product history, increasing trust and regulatory compliance.ITENE, a Spanish research centre, and INFOTEAM, an Italian innovative SME, developed an advanced digital traceability system integrating IoT, GNSS, blockchain, RFID and QR codes technologies. Within the Horizon Europe project NOVAFOODIES (Grant Agreement No. 101084180), producers manage product batches and shipments through a dedicated digital platform, while consumers can access complete and verified product information by scanning QR codes on labels via a dedicated mobile app.The technologies play complementary roles: blockchain ensures data integrity and selective transparency; IoT and GNSS enable real-time monitoring of environmental parameters and location; RFID and QR codes technologies provide immediate shipment updates, simplifying operations for operators and consumers.Two pilot cases in Italy and Greece demonstrated continuous monitoring and complete traceability throughout the supply chain. By combining transparency with cold chain integrity, the system protects consumers, preserves product quality, and strengthens the credibility and sustainability of aquaculture operations. This poster was prepared to be presented during the AquaFarm Pordenone Poster Exhibition 2026.