An investigation into the adoption of blockchain technology as a central food traceability system in the South African FMCG industry

Abstract

The Fast-moving consumer goods industry (FMCG) in South Africa, as well as internationally, faces challenges in ensuring food traceability. Incidents in South Africa include the 2017-2018 listeriosis outbreak that claimed about 183 lives and affected over 600 individuals highlighted gaps in the traceability system. DNA barcoding identified the source of the contamination; however, this process took over a year. Similarly, the 2018 salmonella outbreak in Durban, caused by contaminated eggs, resulted in hospitalisations and demonstrated the inadequacy of current traceability systems. Conventional risk mitigation strategies such as RFID, QR codes, WSN and basic ERP systems are often inadequate in tracing food from farm-to-fork in real-time, compromising food trust and consumer safety. Inefficiencies in information sharing, the reliance on manual processes and inadequate technologies hinder the ability to recall contaminated products. This study investigated current traceability systems used in the South African FMCG industry and the possibility of introducing blockchain to assist with end-to-end food traceability in the African FMCG industry, which has already been employed internationally by Walmart and Nestle. Current systems lack integration which blockchain can resolve through characteristics such as decentralisation and immutable data information sharing. This study was guided by the network theory which is characterised by inter-organisational relationships, trust, information sharing and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure an efficient food supply chain and for meeting customer expectations for food safety, quality and ethical sourcing. An interpretative qualitative methodology using a phenomenological research design was employed involving 12 semi-structured interviews with FMCG employees and four focus groups comprising of customers, farmers and blockchain technology experts, totalling 28 participants. Data were analysed using content analysis and managed through ATLAS.ti software. Findings of this study revealed limitations of current ERP systems to provide end-to-end information sharing, integration, and the tracking and tracing of food. This study also highlights consumer demands for transparency, ethical sourcing, and food quality. Blockchain’s ability to provide real-time, immutable and verifiable data aligns with the customer expectations. However, significant factors impede the adoption of blockchain technology including the lack of trust among stakeholders, educational gaps, infrastructural inadequacies, high implementation costs, legislative uncertainty, and a shortage of skilled labour. This study recommends fostering public-private collaborations, implementing xi educational initiatives, developing inclusive regulatory frameworks to enable blockchain adoption in the South African FMCG industry and the adoption of a collaborative platform in order to enhance traceability, trust and information sharing in the food supply chain. Recommendations for future studies include broadening the research scope by conducting comparative studies between South Africa and other countries for best practices, evaluating the long-term impact of blockchain technology on the supply chain, consumer trust and the market and, ultimately, how sustainable blockchain technology is as it develops and gets adopted.

Intasetiri ya dithoto tse di tsamayang ka bonako tsa bareki (FMCG) mo Aforika Borwa gammogo le mo boditšhabatšhabeng e lebagane le dikgwetlho mo go netefatseng ga tatediso ya thulaganyo ya dijo. Ditiragalo mo Aforika Borwa di akaretsa go runya ga bolwetse jwa listeriosis ka ngwaga wa 2017 go ya go 2018 joo bo bolaileng batho ba le 183 mme gape ba ama le matshelo a batho ba ba 600 ebile gape jwa tlhagisa diphatlha mo tatedisong ya thulaganyo ya dijo. Go tsenya dibakhoutu tsa DNA go supile motswedi wa kgotlelego; le fa go ntse jalo, thulaganyo e e ne ya tsaya lobaka lo lo ka fetang ngwaga. Fela jalo, go runya ga salmonella ka 2018 kwa Durban, go go tlhodilweng ke go kgotlelega ga mae, go ne ga felela ka batho ba le kwa maokelong ebile gape ga supa go tlhaela ga dithulaganyo tsa tatediso tsa ga jaana. Ditogamaano tsa go thibela botshosetsi tse di tlwaelegileng jaaka makhubu a radio a a supang (RFID), dikhoutu tsa tsibogo e e bonako (QR), kgokagagano ya disensara tse di sa diriseng megala (WSN) le dithulaganyo tsa motheo tsa thulaganyo ya didiriswa tsa kgwebo (ERP) gantsi di a tlhaela mo tatedisong ya dijo go tswa polaseng go ya kwa molomong ka nako ya mmatota, mme se se sala se roba tshepo ya bareki mo dijong le mo tshireletsegong ya tsone. Go tlhoka bokgoni mo kabelanong ya tshedimosetso, go ikaega mo dithulaganyong tsa diatla le mo dithekenolojing tse di tlhaelang go kgoreletsa bokgoni jwa go busetsa dithoto tse di kgotlelegileng morago. Patlisisothuto e e batlisisitse ka dithulaganyo tsa tatediso tsa ga jaana tse di dirisang ke FMCG ya Aforika Borwa gammogo le kgonagalo le go tsenyatirisong thekenoloji ya tshedimosetso e e seng bofitlha go thusa ka ga tatediso ya dijo go tswa tshimologong go ya bokhutlong mo intasetiring ya FMCG ya Aforika; eo e dirisiwang boditšhabatšhaba ke Walmart le Nestle. Dithulaganyo tsa ga jaana di tlhaela go kopanngwa, mme e leng seo thekenoloji ya tshedimosetso e e seng bofitlha e ka se rarabololang ka go dirisa dibopego jaaka phatlalatso le datha e e sa fetogeng ya kabelano ya tshedimosetso. Patlisisothuto e e ne ya kaela ke tiori ya kgokagano eo e tlhaolwang ke kamano ya mekgatlho e e farologaneng, tshepo, kabelano ya tshedimosetso le tirisanommogo magareng ga bannaleseabe go netefatsa gore ketane ya tlamelo ya dijo e tlhomame mme gape le gore ditsholofelo tsa batho ka tshireletsego ya dijo, nonofo ya tsone le metswedi ya dijo e e amogelesegang di a netefatswa. Mokgwa wa khwaletheithifi wa tlhaloso o o dirisang mookanyetso wa patlisiso o ne wa dirisiwa mme o akareditse ditherisano di le 12 tse di rulagantsweng bontlhabongwe le badiri ba FMCG gammogo le ditlhopha di le nne tse di lebilweng, xiii tse di akaretsang bareki, balemi, le baitseanape ba thekenoloji ya tshedimosetso e e seng bofitlha. Palogotlhe ya batsayakarolo e ne e le 28. Datha e ne ya ranololwa ka go dirisa thanolo ya diteng, mme e ne tsa tsamaisiwa ka serweboleta sa ATLAS.ti. Diphitlhelelo tsa patlisisothuto di senotse makoa a ditsamaiso tsa ga jaana tsa ERP tsa go ka tlamela ka kabelano ya tshedimosetso ya go tswa tshimologong go ya bokhutlong, go kopanya, gammogo le tshalomorago le tatediso ya dijo. Patlisisothuto e e tlhagisa le ditlhokego tsa bareki tsa go dira dilo mo pepeneneng, nonofo le metswedi ya dijo e e amogelesegang. Bokgoni jwa thekenoloji ya tshedimosetso e e seng bofitlha jwa go tlamela ka datha ya nako ya mmatota, e e sa fetogeng ebile e kgona go netefadiwa bo tsamaisana le ditsholofelo tsa bareki. Le fa go ntse jalo, mabaka a a botlhokwa a kgoreletsa go amogelwa ga thekenoloji ya tshedimosetso e e seng bofitlha e e akaretsang tlhokego ya tshepo magareng ga bannaleseabe, diphatlha mo thutong, tlhaelo mo didirisweng, ditshenyegelo tse di kwa godimo tsa tsenyotirisong, go sa tlhomamang ga peomolao le tlhaelo ya badiri ba ba nang le bokgoni. Patlisisothuto e e akantsha gore go rotloediwe tirisanommogo magareng ga makala a puso le a poraefete, tsenyotirisong ya maiteko a thuto, tlhamo ya matlhomeso a a akaretsang a taolo a a kgontshang kamogelo ya thekenoloji ya tshedimosetso e e seng bofitlha mo intasetiring ya FMCG ya Aforika Borwa le kamogelo ya polatefomo ya tirisanommogo gore go tokafadiwe tatediso, tshepo le kabelano ya tshedimosetso mo ketaneng ya tlamelo ya dijo. Dikatlanegiso tsa dithuto tsa isago di akaretsa go atoloswa ga bogolo jwa patlisiso ka go dira dipatlisisothuto tsa papiso ya ditiro tse di gaisang magareng ga Aforika Borwa le dinaga dingwe, go sekaseka kamo ya ditlamorago tsa paka e telele ya thekenoloji ya tshedimosetso e e seng bofitlha mo ketaneng ya tlamelo, tshepo ya bareki le mmaraka, kwa bokhutlong, gore thekenoloji ya tshedimosetso e e seng bofitlha e ka tsweletsa go tlhabologa jang le go amogelwa.

Intasteri ya diphahlo tša bareki tša go rekišwa ka lebelo (FMCG) ka Afrika Borwa le gape ka maemong a boditšhabatšhaba e lebane le mathata mabapi le go netefatša tatišišo ya dijo. Ditiragalo tša ka Afrika Borwa di akaretša go phulega ga bolwetši bja listeriosisi ka 2017 go fihla ka 2018 bjo bo bolailego batho ba 183 le go ama batho ba go feta ba 600 gomme se sa laetša ditlhaelelo ka go tshepedišo ya tatišišo ya dijo. Diphaakoute tša mabapi le DNA di laeditše mothopo wo bolwetši bo tšwago gona; le ge go le bjale, tshepedišo ye e tšere tekano ya go feta ngwaga. Go swana le se, go phulega ga bolwetši bja salemonela ka 2018 ka Durban, bjo bo bakilwego ke mae ao a fetetšwego ke bolwetši, bo feletšwe ka go amogelwa ga balwetši dipetlele le go laetša go se lekane ga ditshepedišo tša bjale tša tatišišo ya dijo. Mekgwa ye e tlwaelegilego ya go fokotša dikotsi ya go swana le tšhupetšo ya frekhwentshi ya radio (RFID), dikhoute tša phetolo ya ka pela (QR), netweke ya sensara ya go hloka mathale (WSN) le ditshepedišo tša motheo tša peakanyo ya methopo ya dikgwebo (ERP) gantši ga di lekane go ka latišiša dijo go tloga polaseng go fihla ge di jewa ka dinako tša mmakgonthe, gomme se sa akaretša go tshepha dijo le polokego ya bareki. Go se šome gabotse ga kabelano ya tshedimošo, go tshepha ditshepedišo tša menyuale le ditheknolotši tša go se lekane di šitiša bokgoni bja go tloša ditšweletšwa tšeo di šilafetšego di nago le malwetši mmarakeng. Dinyakišišo tše di nyakišišitše ditshepedišo tša bjale tša tatišišo ya dijo tšeo di šomišwago ka ditshepedišong tša bjale tša tatišišo ya dijo ka intastering ya FMCG ka Afrika Borwa le kgonagalo ya go tsebagatša blockchain go thuša ka tatišišo ya dijo go tloga mathomong go fihla mafelelong ka intastering ya FMCG ka Afrika Borwa; yeo e šetšego e dirišitšwego maemong a boditšhabatšhaba ke Walmart le Nestle. Ditshepedišo tša bjale di hloka kopanyo, fao blockchain e ka kgonago go rarolla tše ka go diriša dipharologantšhi tša go swana le go se beye taolo lefelong le tee le kabelano ya tshedimošo ya go se fetoge. Dinyakišišo tše di hlahlilwe ke teori ya netweke yeo e tsebjago ka dikamano tša magareng ga mekgatlo, go tshephana, go abelana tshedimošo le go dirišana magareng ga batšeakarolo go netefatša gore go ba le lenaneokabo la dijo leo le šomago gabotse le go fihlelela dikemelo tša bareki mabapi le polokego ya dijo, boleng le go diriša ditiro tša mekgwa ye mekaone. Mokgwa wa tlhathollo ya boleng ka go šomiša dinyakišišo ka ga tiragalo o dirišitšwe fao go akaretšwago dipotsološo tše 12 tša go nyaka gore baarabi ba fe mabaka le bašomi ba FMCG le dihlopha tša nepišo tše nne tšeo di bopilwego ke bareki, balemi le ditsebi tša theknolotši ya bockchain, xv bao ba fihlago go palomoka ya bakgathatema ba 28. Tshedimošo e ile ya sekasekwa ka go šomiša tshekatsheko ya dikagareng gomme ya laolwa ka go diriša softewere ya ATLAS.ti. Dikutollo tša dinyakišišo tše di utollotše gore go na le tlhaelelo go ditshepedišo tša bjale tša ERP go fana ka kabelano ya tshedimošo go tloga mathomong go fihla mafelelong a kabo ya ditšweletšwa, le go hlokomedišiša le go latišiša dijo. Dinyakišišo tše gape di laetša seo bareki ba se nyakago mabapi le go hloka sephiri, go diriša baabi ba mekgwa ye mekaone le boleng bja dijo. Bokgoni bja blockchain bja go fana ka tshedimošo ya bjale ya go se fetošwe le yeo e tiišetšwago go sepelelana le dikemelo tša bareki. Le ge go le bjale, mabaka a bohlokwa a šitiša go dirišwa ga theknolotši ya blockchain go akaretšwa tlhokego ya go tshephana magareng ga bakgathatema, ditlhaelelo tša thuto, go se lekane ga mananeokgoparara, ditshenyegelo tša godimo tša phethagatšo, go hloka bonnete ka ga melao le tlhaelelo ya bašomi bao ba nago le bokgoni. Dinyakišišo tše di šišinya gore go dirwe ditirišano tša mageng ga setšhaba le makala a phraebete, go tsenya tirišong matsapa a tša thuto, go hlama metheo ya melao ye e akaretšago mang le mang go kgontšha kamogelo ya blockchain ka intastering ya FMCG ya ka Arika Borwa le tirišo ya pholathefomo ya tirišano ka nepo ya go maatlaafatša tatišišo, go tshephana le kabelano ya tshedimošo ka go lenaneokabo la dijo. Ditšhišinyo go dinyakišišo tša ka moso di akaretša go katološa mollwane wa dinyakišišo ka go dira dinyakišišo tša papetšo magareng ga Afrika Borwa le dinaga tše dingwe go lekola ditiro tše kaone, go sekaseka seabe sa lebaka le letelele la theknolotši ya blockchain go lenaneokabo la dijo, tshepho ya bareki le mmaraka le, mafelelong, ka fao theknolotši ya blockchain e ka dirišwago go ya go ile ge e dutše e tšwelela le go dirišwa.