What Happens If Blockchain Can Make Supply Chains Transparent?

A few weeks ago, I went into a supermarket and wanted to buy organic honey. I chose one with “100% Pure & Organic” written on the jar, assuming I was getting something healthy and moral. Only weeks later, a report was published exposing the mixing of syrups with most “organic” honey brands, which were sourced in an uncouth manner. It made me feel cheated.

Think of it this way: assume every stage in the journey that honey went through—from where it was harvested, treated, and prepared—was documented on some blockchain. No more ambiguous labels or misleading claims of any type whatsoever. Thanks to blockchain, every transaction within the chain becomes crystal clear, from the beehive owner right to the retailers. Companies such as Walmart and Carrefour have started applying the technology to scrutinize food supply chains for cases of fraud or quality issues.

But while blockchain can enhance transparency, it also introduces its own set of challenges: it is expensive to integrate into global supply chains, and its accuracy is only as good as the honesty of data entry. If false information gets uploaded, it’s not as if the system is going to self-correct.

If it became the norm, could blockchain finally end false advertising and unethical sourcing? Would you trust brands more if you could track their claims in real time? Let’s discuss!