According to a press release, Nestlé will break new ground in supply chain transparency through a collaboration with OpenSC – an innovative blockchain platform that allows consumers to track their food right back to the farm. Australia has developed a new blockchain platform called ‘OpenSC’ in partnership with BCG Digital ventures. OpenSC uses blockchain technology to track foods and other products through the entire supply chain process (from origin to consumer). The project’s main goal is to deter the transfer of illegal, environmentally damaging or unethical products by providing more transparency and accountability to various stakeholders.
The pilot program will trace milk from NewZealand to Nestle Factories and warehoused in the Middle East. It is most probable that the pilot will be in UAE as Nestle has invested in factories as well as warehouses. In 2015 Nestle opened a $120 million manufacturing facility in Dubai to provide fresher products for consumers in MENA . Later in 2017 Nestlé Middle East inaugurated Al-Maha Factory in Dubai South, which will produce its Maggi noodle and Nescafe coffee brands for the GCC market.
Magdi Batato, Executive Vice President, Head of Operations, Nestlé S.A. said, “We want our consumers to make an informed decision on their choice of products to choose products produced responsibly. Open blockchain technology might allow us to share reliable information with consumers in an accessible way.”
Nestlé has piloted blockchain technology since 2017, most prominently with IBM Food Trust. In April, it gave consumers access to blockchain data for the first time, through Mousline purée in France. “This open blockchain technology will allow anyone, anywhere in the world to assess our responsible sourcing facts and figures,” said Benjamin Ware, Global Head of Responsible Sourcing, Nestlé S.A.
“We believe it is another important step towards the full disclosure of our supply chains announced by Nestlé in February this year, raising the bar for transparency and responsible production globally,” Benjamin Ware added.
