E-Agriculture in Action: Blockchain for Agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have recently published a title called, ‘Blockchain for Agriculture, Opportunities and Challenges’ as part of the E-Agriculture in Action series publications.

This is part of the collaboration of working together of the two UN Agencies to work together to promote the use of sustainable information and communication technologies (ICTs) in agriculture.

The focus of the publication is on blockchain technology in agriculture. The aim of the book is to demystify the technology, provide some thoughts on the opportunities and challenges in implementing blockchain-based systems. In so doing, the publication also includes some case studies on the use of blockchain in Agriculture.

The publication begins by explaining what blockchain, using simple and clear examples easy for non-technical people to understand. It further explores various types of block chains and initial uses.

Blockchain technology has been used in agricultural insurance systems, land registration and in agricultural supply chains – this include also in fisheries sector (to track and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing –IUU).

This publication follows the recent paper by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) entitled Emerging Opportunities for the Application of Blockchain in the Agri-food Industry

Table of Contents

1. Blockchain demystified .................................................................................................
2. Agriculture: opportunities for blockchain technology ............................................... 
3. Blockchain: understanding the implementation risks .................................................
4. FARMS: financial and agricultural risk management for smallholders......................
5. AgriDigital: blockchain for agri-supply chains ..............................................................
6. Building blocks: using blockchain for cash-based transfers ........................................
7. AgUnity: blockchain for the greater good .....................................................................

More information here