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Blockchain for trustworthy provenances: A case study in the Australian aquaculture industry

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  • Garrard, Robert
  • Fielke, Simon

Abstract

We explore the potential for a blockchain ledger to record supply chain provenances in an inherently trustworthy manner. The use of blockchain in this setting may allow for traceability of products through the supply chain without fear that an item’s provenance is fraudulent or has been tampered with. We compare the desirable properties of a blockchain ledger to those of a traditional database. We also consider challenges to the trustworthiness of a provenance idiosyncratic to the context of supply chains. We present a case study in which we conduct a series of semi-structured interviews with members of the prawn aquaculture industry in Australia. This industry was chosen as it stands to gain from robust provenances due to international competition. We find that blockchain based technology is unlikely to deliver substantial gains to the industry when compared to alternatives. Rather, most gains are likely to arise from the industry becoming digitalized, which would be a precondition for any blockchain technology to be operational.

Suggested Citation

  • Garrard, Robert & Fielke, Simon, 2020. "Blockchain for trustworthy provenances: A case study in the Australian aquaculture industry," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:62:y:2020:i:c:s0160791x19304841
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101298
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    6. Jakku, E. & Fleming, A. & Espig, M. & Fielke, S. & Finlay-Smits, S.C. & Turner, J.A., 2023. "Disruption disrupted? Reflecting on the relationship between responsible innovation and digital agriculture research and development at multiple levels in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    7. Terhorst, Andrew & Garrard, Robert, 2022. "How unified is the Australian agricultural sector when talking to policy makers about digitalization?," SocArXiv 4nge5, Center for Open Science.
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    9. Peter Sasitharan Gandhi Maniam & Nirmal Acharya & Anne-Marie Sassenberg & Jeffrey Soar, 2024. "Determinants of Blockchain Technology Adoption in the Australian Agricultural Supply Chain: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-22, July.
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    13. Lovina Yogarajan & Mohammad Masukujjaman & Mohd Helmi Ali & Norlin Khalid & Lokhman Hakim Osman & Syed Shah Alam, 2023. "Exploring the Hype of Blockchain Adoption in Agri-Food Supply Chain: A Systematic Literature Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-24, May.
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    15. Saleem Malik & Mehmood Chadhar & Savanid Vatanasakdakul & Madhu Chetty, 2021. "Factors Affecting the Organizational Adoption of Blockchain Technology: Extending the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) Framework in the Australian Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-33, August.
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