Walmart's blockchain plan is upgraded, pork supply chain is just the first step

A week ago, Babbitt News reported on Walmart’s blockchain pilot project, which attempts to ensure the security of the pork supply chain in the Chinese market. However, this is only the first step of the group’s global blockchain plan.

The pilot project uses Hyperledger technology to track pork shipments, including farm source details, batch numbers and storage temperatures, which are then recorded on a secure blockchain database.

In the coming months, the retail giant is preparing to expand the effort. Frank Yiannas, Walmart's vice president of global food safety, told reporters that the company is already looking at other applications after anticipating a successful pilot program.

Yiannas told CoinDesk:

“We will work to identify more food products where we can use blockchain to improve our tracking capabilities.”

If successful, the project, which Walmart is working on with IBM and Tsinghua University in Beijing, could improve a major supply chain market (pork is China's most popular meat product).

After the trial is complete, Yiannas said Walmart will work with IBM to develop other applications, including tracking the supply chain of other products through blockchain.

The extended impact of blockchain

In Yiannas' view, blockchain can not only make food healthier, it will also have more impacts.

Yiannas said that because supply chain transactions on blockchain are more transparent and recorded more accurately, it could have an overall impact on Walmart's brand.

He said:

“Examples of benefits include safer food, increased consumer trust, increased traffic, fresher produce for customers, and faster delivery that reduces food waste in households.”

The $213 billion global retailer has been working to ensure its products meet certain standards, but it is still facing lawsuits.

Walmart was sued earlier this year for selling cheese that contained wood pulp, and last year it was fined for selling genetically modified sweet corn.