The U.S. livestock industry is moving toward blockchain. CattleProof, a decentralized cattle verification service, has been approved as “Verified,” giving it the historic title of being the USDA’s first blockchain-based Process Verification Program (PVP). CattleProof is a Wyoming company that uses distributed ledger technology to store data on individual cattle.
Blockchain for livestock verification
An electronic identification tag attached to each animal provides a combination of data that records the animal’s condition, location, and many other attributes, and is stored immutably on the blockchain. This change dramatically facilitates tracking with farm-to-fork traceability, allowing farmers to monitor cow health in real-time to improve cattle management and monitoring.
A big step towards regulation
USDA’s PVP services allow companies like CattleProof to begin innovating for cattle-related issues while potentially setting the standard for regulatory requirements. This allows companies like CattleProof to put together a set of voluntary standards that are vetted by governments, creating the first decentralized network for cattle monitoring.
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This fits into a broader pattern in the agricultural industry. Agricultural industry participants are increasingly turning to technology as a way to adapt to regulatory requirements while improving operational efficiency and transparency.
CattleProof: A unique solution
What is unique about CattleProof is that it is a USDA-approved PVP using blockchain. Services include “Born in the USA” certification and digital certificates with direct backlinks to animal data. The company has also integrated with Heartland Payments, offering direct trading opportunities for certified cattle.
This is established by giving buyers the opportunity to check the authenticity of livestock, ultimately improving consumer confidence in the meat product trade. Additionally, the system allows farmers to offer something unique with their produce, giving them an edge among their competitors in a competitive market through consumer traceability and ethical sourcing. can.
This approval is also evidence that the adoption of blockchain technology on farms is gaining momentum. The USDA’s recent proposal to revise its organic product regulations to establish traceable supply lines adds further substance to the USDA’s growth.
Blockchain continues to gain traction in the agriculture sector, poised to transform the industry by incorporating increased security, reduced fraud, and increased supply chain efficiency. This success could portend a wide range of programs opening up to similar initiatives in other sectors, reinforcing the role technology plays in modern agricultural practices.
Featured image courtesy of Whitney Land, chart courtesy of TradingView
