Naturipe joins blockchain initiative

Berry company Naturipe Farms, Salinas, Calif., is joining a group of food companies using blockchain technology to improve food safety and cut waste.

The companies are working with SAP in an effort to improve the food supply chain, according to a news release.

“Currently, food supply chain stakeholders record their own product information and share only if necessary,” Carol McMillan, director of IT for Naturipe Farms, said in a news release. “The goal is to help create a system with higher trust and transparency between companies to increase speed and operational simplification.”

The goal is to help build the “next generation of farm-to-consumer ‘track and trace,’ also known at a digital supply chain for food,” according to the release.

Naturipe and SAP want to boost supply chain integrity and efficiency through the blockchain initiative, according to the release. Carol McMillan is scheduled to speak on a panel at the SAP Enterprise Blockchain Symposium, September 5-6 in Palo Alto, Calif.

“We are working with leading brands in the food industry to unlock the potential of blockchain to address the industry’s biggest supply chain challenges,” Hans Thalbauer, SAP senior vice president for IoT and Digital Supply Chain, said in the release. “The case is important to SAP because our technology helps to reduce food waste and optimize the supply chain.”