5.6 Conclusions

ASSESSING THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGIES IN THE AGRI-FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

• Implementation Quality:
  • Assessment: The trustworthiness of blockchain in the agrifood sector depends on the quality of its implementation. A well-designed and rigorously implemented blockchain system is more likely to be trustworthy.
  • Transparency and Traceability:
  • Assessment: Blockchain's impact on transparency and traceability is a key factor. If the blockchain implementation provides a transparent and traceable record of the supply chain, it contributes to trustworthiness.

• Data Integrity:
  • Assessment: The immutability of data on the blockchain ensures data integrity. If the technology is effectively preventing unauthorized modifications to the data, it enhances trust in the accuracy of information.
  • Security Measures:
  • Assessment: The security features of the blockchain system play a crucial role. Robust encryption, secure consensus mechanisms, and access controls contribute to the overall security of the technology, impacting its trustworthiness.

• Scalability:
  • Assessment: The ability of the blockchain to scale and accommodate a growing volume of transactions is crucial. A scalable solution ensures continued performance and reliability, impacting its trustworthiness.
  • Continuous Improvement:
  • Assessment: Ongoing development, updates, and a commitment to continuous improvement indicate a dynamic and responsive blockchain solution. Such adaptability contributes to trustworthiness over time.

CONCLUSION

• In summary, the extent to which the use of blockchain in the agrifood sector is trustworthy depends on factors such as the quality of implementation, its impact on transparency and traceability, data integrity, security measures, scalability, a commitment to continuous improvement, community and industry support, regulatory compliance, user feedback, educational initiatives and interoperability.
• Each of these factors plays a role in shaping the overall trustworthiness of blockchain technology in the agrifood supply chain.

LINKS TO FURTHER MATERIALS

• IBM, What is Blockchain Security?
  https://www.ibm.com/topics/blockchain-security
• Blockchain as a confidence machine: The problem of trust & challenges of governance https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X20303067
• Towards trustworthy blockchains: normative reflections on blockchain-enabled virtual institutions
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10676-021-09581-3
• A general definition of trust
  https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/341800/
• A Blockchain-Based Traceability System in Agri-Food SME: Case Study of a Traditional Bakery
  https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9410538
• Uncovering the potential of blockchain in the agri-food supply chain: An interdisciplinary case study
  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923474822000303
• International Food and Agribusiness Management Review
  https://www.wageningenacademic.com/doi/epdf/10.22434/IFAMR2019.0152?role=tab

• https://www.wageningenacademic.com/doi/epdf/10.22434/IFAMR2019.0152?role=tab
• The Role of System Trust in Business-to-Consumer Transactions
  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07421222.2003.11045777
• The impact of a blockchain platform on trust in established relationships: a case study of wine supply chains
  https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/SCM-05-2021-0227/full/html
• Designing for Trust in Blockchain Platforms
  https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/190479/1/IEEE_TEM_Design_For_Trust_researchgate.pdf
• PwC’s Trust in US Business Survey, 2021