Michigan State University Student Organization Uses Blockchain Technology to Ensure Food Safety!
Written by - Drew Goretzka Editors: Gigi Ngcobo & Sean Kennedy
In recent months, Spartan Blockchain Solutions has worked with Land Grant Goods(LGG), a student-run business at Michigan State University, to produce a more efficient way to protect customers and help employees identify food safety issues using blockchain technology. The project, led by managing director Sidd Chhabra and lead engineer Sean Kennedy, is scheduled to be completed and fully deployed by the end of June 2019.
LGG, founded in 2017, is a student-run business based at Michigan State University, and its products mostly focus on consumables made from honey. According to its mission statement, the business “strives to be a leader and model in the realm of sustainable business.” Part of that is sourcing its products from local producers. Due to this, occasionally it is hard for the business to pinpoint the origin of some problems that arise. If they find that a jar of honey was packaged incorrectly, it can be hard to figure out who or what is responsible.
Kennedy’s team offered a solution. By putting all relevant information surrounding every product that comes from LGG’s suppliers on the blockchain, employees can now identify where it came from when a customer has a complaint. “If LGG needs to recall [a product] because a supplier made a mistake, they know exactly what bottles came from that supplier,” team member Angelo Savich said. Indicating that the blockchain system allows them not need to recall everything, saving LGG money and increasing their efficiency. Savich and the team developed the system using “Quick Response” codes to place on every product coming from suppliers. When scanned, the codes bring up everything from when a jar of honey was bottled to the temperature it was stored at. This is done through the blockchain, where the product data is stored permanently.
This solution for a small business such as LGG is a reflection of the steps larger companies are taking to utilize the blockchain. This year alone, Walmart announced a plan to have all of their suppliers of leafy green vegetables upload their data to the blockchain, according to an article by Tech Crunch.
Even niche markets, such as that of sneakers, are seeing prospective integration into similar blockchain-fueled solutions. Chronicled CEO Ryan Orr has expressed interest in using the blockchain to validate the authenticity of collectible sneakers, according to an interview with CoinDesk.
The LGG engagement and subsequent solution is the first step in Spartan Blockchain helping protect customers in food safety, product authentication, and various other commercial areas. After the test run on May 30 the program will deploy, with the next goal being training employees to effectively utilize it.
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