Blockchain offers seafood producers new tools to build consumer trust, says Norwegian Seafood Council
Seafood producers are being encouraged to harness blockchain technology to meet growing consumer demand for transparency, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).
Research by the NSC shows that 89% of consumers want more information about how their seafood is produced. This has prompted calls for the wider adoption of blockchain platforms to improve traceability, ensure compliance with sustainability standards, and strengthen consumer trust.
Blockchain technology allows for a permanent, tamper-proof digital record of seafood products, covering data points from egg quality, water conditions, and feeding patterns to harvesting, logistics and delivery. Unlike traditional tracing systems, blockchain platforms can securely store encrypted, timestamped data that is accessible in chronological order across the supply chain.
Initiatives such as the FAIRR Seafood Traceability Engagement, a $6.5 trillion investor coalition, have underlined the growing investor and regulatory focus on transparency throughout the seafood sector. Technology providers such as IBM Food Trust and Provenance are already offering blockchain-based solutions that have seen uptake across global seafood markets.
“Blockchain is an opportunity for the industry to tell authentic and engaging stories, building on the many narratives the seafood sector has to offer,” said Lars Moksness, global consumer behaviour analyst at the NSC.
Blockchain and other emerging technologies were highlighted in the NSC’s latest trends report, Navigating the World of Megatrends, which outlines the shifts expected to shape seafood consumption in the coming decades.