Nestlé to offer blockchain milk tracing system to consumers
Swiss food producer Nestlé has ramped up its exploration of blockchain technology by joining a platform that allows consumers to track milk from the farm to its products. The innovation addresses consumer demand to identify ingredients that end up in their food and drink.
This content was published on
2 minutes
When not covering fintech, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, banks and trade, swissinfo.ch's business correspondent can be found playing cricket on various grounds in Switzerland - including the frozen lake of St Moritz.
The Swiss company has partnered with the OpenSC “blockchain-enabled” digital systemExternal link built by WWF Australia and Boston Consulting Group Digital Ventures to allow anyone in the world to trace data. Consumers can scan a QR code on the product in a shop to check where ingredients were sourced and follow them though the supply chain.
The stated aim of the platform is to “help businesses and consumers avoid illegal, environmentally damaging or unethical products, while improving supply chain accountability and transparency.”
The OpenSC system collaboration was announced by the Vevey-based food giant on Tuesday.
“The initial pilot program will trace milk from farms and producers in New Zealand to Nestlé factories and warehouses in the Middle East. Later, the technology will be tested using palm oil sourced in the Americas. These pilots will allow Nestlé to understand how scalable the system is,” read a statementExternal link.
Blockchain and other distributed ledger technology systems are designed to build a tamper-proof ledger of data in time sequence, which can be verified by multiple parties and opened for public scrutiny.
However, critics argue that such ledgers are only as good as the data that is entered into them, leaving space for bad actors to input falsified entries.
More
More
The blockchain revolution emerges on main street
This content was published on
A blockchain ski resort, new ways of investing in real estate, financing oil shipments and incorporating a company.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
This content was published on
The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
Ukraine peace conference should include Russia, says Chinese ambassador
This content was published on
China supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties, says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui.
This content was published on
A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
This content was published on
The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
Ecological status of Swiss streams insufficient according to study
This content was published on
Pesticide use and obstructions of waterways have a particularly negative impact on sensitive organisms, completely absent in 70% of streams analysed.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
This content was published on
One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss manufacturers dive head first into blockchain
This content was published on
This week, BühlerExternal link unveiled a new method of destroying salmonella and e.coli in dry foods using low-energy electrons. Once the food has been treated, a data processing system can feed information onto a blockchain, which allows consumers, retailers and food producers to trace the safe products onto the supermarket shelf. The advantage of DLT…
Cryptocurrencies accepted by Switzerland’s biggest online retailer
This content was published on
The move may go some way to answering the question posed by many bitcoin holders: “I have cryptocurrencies, now what do I do with them?” Created in 2008, bitcoin was the first blockchain-based peer-to-peer payment system designed to rival currencies printed by governments. And in the last decade, hundreds of bitcoin imitators – commonly referred…
This content was published on
One of Switzerland’s most prestigious hotels, a luxury car dealer and a wine merchant will soon start accepting payments in bitcoin.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.