Improving food safety and quality control through blockchain in emerging market supply chains

This study’s main goal is to find out how blockchain technology may improve food safety and quality management in supply chains serving emerging markets. The increasing pressure on the global food supply chain to ensure the safety and quality of food products served is the driving force behind this study, particularly in poorer countries where infrastructure and regulatory oversight may be less developed. The information asymmetry, weak traceability systems, and fragmented structures that often define supply chains in emerging markets provide significant challenges to food safety and quality control activities. In recent years, blockchain technology has emerged as a potential solution to these problems. The study employed qualitative research approach using a qualitative data analysis programme, ATLAS. ti 23. Having embraced the interpretivist paradigm, about 25 supply chain professionals were purposefully selected for this study. Following thematic analysis, the following themes emerged from the primary data: Blockchain technology fundamentals, challenges in emerging market supply chains, blockchain applications and mechanisms, benefits and challenges of blockchain adoption, policy and regulatory considerations, socio-economic impacts. Using blockchain technology will enable real-time tracking of agricultural goods from farm to consumer in supply chains in emerging markets, like South Africa. Better traceability is ensured, allowing businesses to promptly pinpoint the cause of contamination or quality problems. This reduces the likelihood of widespread foodborne illnesses and recalls. By making sure that all parties involved farmers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers are held responsible for upholding safety and quality standards, this can lessen fraud and tampering. Blockchain technology is becoming more and more popular in developed market supply chains, but its potential in emerging countries is still limited, especially when it comes to food safety and quality control. This study offers fresh perspectives on how blockchain might be tailored to these regions’ particular opportunities and problems, like disjointed supply chains, constrained infrastructure, and inconsistent regulations. Key Words: Food safety, quality control, blockchain, emerging market, supply chain