Use Cases and Projects in Blockchain
Blockchain is being tested and implemented in several projects, many of which use IBM’s Hyperledger Fabric, a permissioned ledger that is securely maintained by the interested parties.13 While using such a system does not provide ultimate transparency, it does provide much more than the current system.
  1. Walmart: used blockchain to track mangoes and to test several other food items. Additionally, Walmart is working with IBM and Tsinghua University on a project to track Chinese pork14
  2. Dreyfus: used a blockchain platform to close a large soybean deal with a Chinese supplier, cutting down transaction time dramatically15
  3. Coca-Cola: building blockchain platforms to help ensure ethical sugar production16
  4. Unilever: working with Provenance to track tea in Malawi17
  5. Carrefour: working on a blockchain system to help trace product origin18
  6. Dole, Driscoll’s, Kroger, Tyson, Nestle, Golden State Foods, McCormick and Company, and McLane Company: working with IBM to build blockchain tracking solutions19
Ibisa: IBISA is a Luxembourg based company providing an innovative product for inclusive finance in the agricultural industry using blockchain technology and Earth Observation. In its early stages, IBISA is positioned to tackle emerging markets and create sustainable investment opportunities in those markets. Their product provides the following solutions:
IBISA is tackling farmers’ requirements in emerging countries in the following manner:
IBISA has developed an interesting business model that leverages farmers, institutions, and infrastructure solution providers. It is enabling solutions in the following problems existing in emerging economies’ agricultural industries:
IBISA leverages blockchain technology in the following categories:
The key elements of IBISA are as follows:
AgriLedger: a project primarily focused on providing regional and international markets and capital access to small farmers, who supply 80% of the food consumed in developing countries. The system primarily runs off of simple smartphone apps and has run pilot co-op projects in Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, and other countries. All results have been positive so far, with income as much as tripling in some cases.
AgriLedger provides the following services:
Ripe: a company working to improve the visibility of food supply chains. Ripe is altering the trajectory of the food system through blockchain technology and the IoT by providing the following services:
AgriDigital: a commodity management platform targeted toward the grain industry. AgriDigital is an end-to-end solution providing farmers and consumers with simple and easy processes to manage contracts, deliveries, inventory, orders, invoices, and payments all in one place, and in real time, through the following services:
EthicHub: a platform providing crowdfunding and microloans for small format farms, as well as leveraging blockchain to connect investors (lenders) to small unbanked agricultural producers (borrowers) globally. EthicHub provides the following services:
Lokaal: a company that designed a crypto-currency, the LOKA, to support local farms, food-makers, and small businesses by providing microloans and payments. People who are interested in accessing the market can purchase LOKA on Lokaal’s site and use it in their curated marketplace, or donate it either through Lokaal support fund or directly to specific farms or food makers listed on their funding pages.20 Key features of this product are its simplicity and ease of access between end consumers and producers: Farmers: Farms and food vendors get paid instantly for any sale made in their network. Lokaal manages the collections risk with buyers, thus providing cash proceeds based on sales history with flexible repayment options. Conversion to Fiat is very easy, as the exchange rate is recorded during the time of sale to provide stability in exchange rate volatility. End Consumers (Investors/Purchaser): have the option to choose between products they want for their individual purposes (such as retail agricultural products) and can fund projects they believe in, such as organic berry farms, which in turn reduces the retail cost of organic products as they fund the farmers directly. Lastly, they are able to store value and gain in the crypto-currency that is utilized in the platform for lending purposes.