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Blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in South Africa

This research explores the integration of blockchain technology in South Africa's agricultural sector to enhance food traceability. The study critically examines the evolving landscape of agri-food markets, transitioning from traditional to modern supply chains marked by globalisation and increased...

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Main Author: Brummer, Ulrich
Other Authors: van Vuuren, Gary
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Graduate School of Business (GSB) 2025
Subjects:
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access_status_str Open Access
author Brummer, Ulrich
author2 van Vuuren, Gary
author_browse Brummer, Ulrich
van Vuuren, Gary
author_facet van Vuuren, Gary
Brummer, Ulrich
author_sort Brummer, Ulrich
collection Thesis
description This research explores the integration of blockchain technology in South Africa's agricultural sector to enhance food traceability. The study critically examines the evolving landscape of agri-food markets, transitioning from traditional to modern supply chains marked by globalisation and increased emphasis on quality and safety. The role of blockchain technology in addressing traceability challenges is assessed through an extensive literature review, featuring diverse perspectives and insights. The study investigates the application of blockchain in food traceability through an analysis of various models and frameworks presented in contemporary research studies. Notably, the research highlights the significance of traceability in ensuring food safety, quality, and sustainability, emphasising the growing consumer demand for transparent information about the origin and journey of food products. Past global food scandals have highlighted the need for robust traceability systems and highlighted the urgency of quick crisis identification and resolution. Blockchain technology emerges as a transformative solution for food traceability, offering immutability, transparency, and decentralised control. The study acknowledges the challenges associated with blockchain adoption, including issues related to data governance, interoperability, regulatory frameworks, implementation costs, and the need for stakeholder education. The research underscores the importance of sector-wide consensus and standardisation efforts to overcome these challenges and facilitate the transition from blockchain pilots to enduring implementations. The research is concluded by highlighting the implications of blockchain adoption, including enhanced transparency, improved food safety, and increased consumer confidence. It emphasises the need for collaborative efforts between government and industry stakeholders to establish supportive regulations and standardised protocols. The study identifies research gaps, including the exploration of advanced consensus mechanisms, privacy-preserving techniques, and the integration of artificial intelligence for data analytics. Continuous research and collaboration are proposed to address these gaps and drive ongoing innovation in the field. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of blockchain technology in South African agriculture, offering insights for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to navigate the dynamic intersection of technology and food traceability.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:22.529Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher Graduate School of Business (GSB)
publisherStr Graduate School of Business (GSB)
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/40807 Blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in South Africa Brummer, Ulrich van Vuuren, Gary South Africa Agriculture Blockchain Traceability This research explores the integration of blockchain technology in South Africa's agricultural sector to enhance food traceability. The study critically examines the evolving landscape of agri-food markets, transitioning from traditional to modern supply chains marked by globalisation and increased emphasis on quality and safety. The role of blockchain technology in addressing traceability challenges is assessed through an extensive literature review, featuring diverse perspectives and insights. The study investigates the application of blockchain in food traceability through an analysis of various models and frameworks presented in contemporary research studies. Notably, the research highlights the significance of traceability in ensuring food safety, quality, and sustainability, emphasising the growing consumer demand for transparent information about the origin and journey of food products. Past global food scandals have highlighted the need for robust traceability systems and highlighted the urgency of quick crisis identification and resolution. Blockchain technology emerges as a transformative solution for food traceability, offering immutability, transparency, and decentralised control. The study acknowledges the challenges associated with blockchain adoption, including issues related to data governance, interoperability, regulatory frameworks, implementation costs, and the need for stakeholder education. The research underscores the importance of sector-wide consensus and standardisation efforts to overcome these challenges and facilitate the transition from blockchain pilots to enduring implementations. The research is concluded by highlighting the implications of blockchain adoption, including enhanced transparency, improved food safety, and increased consumer confidence. It emphasises the need for collaborative efforts between government and industry stakeholders to establish supportive regulations and standardised protocols. The study identifies research gaps, including the exploration of advanced consensus mechanisms, privacy-preserving techniques, and the integration of artificial intelligence for data analytics. Continuous research and collaboration are proposed to address these gaps and drive ongoing innovation in the field. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of blockchain technology in South African agriculture, offering insights for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to navigate the dynamic intersection of technology and food traceability. 2025-01-15T13:47:35Z 2025-01-15T13:47:35Z 2024 2025-01-15T12:36:41Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MA http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40807 eng application/pdf Graduate School of Business (GSB) Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town
spellingShingle South Africa
Agriculture
Blockchain Traceability
Brummer, Ulrich
Blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in South Africa
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in South Africa
title_full Blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in South Africa
title_fullStr Blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in South Africa
title_short Blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in South Africa
title_sort blockchain technology for agriculture traceability systems in south africa
topic South Africa
Agriculture
Blockchain Traceability
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40807
work_keys_str_mv AT brummerulrich blockchaintechnologyforagriculturetraceabilitysystemsinsouthafrica