Combating food fraud and ensuring authenticity will be an important part of a company’s success moving forward.
CHO, one of the leading olive oil producers in Tunisia, is working with IBM and their blockchain technology to improve transparency and allow consumers to track the product from harvest to their kitchen shelf.
“The way we see it, it would really double down on that transparency factor for our consumer,” said Wajih Rekik, the CEO of CHO America, which distributes the Terra Delyssa brand of olive oil.
When (the consumers) scan the bottle it will show them the region, where the olives were harvested, when they were crushed, when the oil was filtered, when it was packaged, and when it was analyzed for shipment.- Wajih Rekik, CEO of CHO America
“We found that transparency was our second success factor,” he added. “We have tried to capitalize on that but there are not many ways really; there was blockchain [though]. And we thought that was really going to take us to the next level.”
Blockchain is a transaction tracking system designed to allow business owners, consumers or any other entity using the technology, to effectively track any transaction or product from the date of its creation to its final destination.
See Also:Olive Oil Technology NewsUsers of the technology, in this case CHO, record their information into “blocks,” which are then recorded into an online ledger – effectively chaining them together. Blocks can only be added to the chain, not deleted, thus keeping the information available and secure for review and transparency.
“Once we enter all the information, we cannot change it,” Rekik said. “So we are holding ourselves accountable, and that’s really one of the biggest parts of that veil of trust.”
In the case of Terra Delyssa, the technology will allow buyers to scan a QR code that will show them where the bottle that is in their hands was packaged, when and where the olives that produced its oil were harvested and when the finished product was shipped.
“When [the consumers] scan the bottle it will show them the region, where the olives were harvested, when they were crushed, when the oil was filtered, when it was packaged and when it was analyzed for shipment,” said Rekik.
The quality checks are not only meant for the consumers, however. CHO has made a separate portion of the blockchain data available specifically to distributors that will show all the aforementioned information as well as provide “access to the actual certificate of analysis,” according to Rekik.
Blockchain technology is a difficult process to put into practice, especially when there are many different steps to track. When harvesting olives and making them into olive oil, the tracking of so many distinct steps was a red flag for some providers of the technology.
“Some providers (of blockchain) made it sound like it is not going to happen in this decade; it is so complicated that an olive oil producer cannot implement it,” Rekik said. “IBM managed really to make it easy.”
The entire process creates eight total checkpoints that the blockchain will record: when the olives were picked, crushed, milled, and filtered; and once the oil has been analyzed before storage, the date of storage, when it is bottled, and the analysis after bottling.
Rekik hopes that, in the future, CHO will be able to provide all this information to prominent distributors, such as Whole Foods or Target, where the customer will be able to see it while purchasing their product.
The move shows the olive oil industry’s growing awareness that food fraud, olive oil adulteration and a brand’s handling of the two issues, will be an important part of a company’s success moving forward.
“I do not want to be the one endorsing that the olive industry is full of adulteration,” Rekik said. “I can only acknowledge that there is a big negative media attention around it… and we believe that this is going to be the way to go, this will be the future; you’re going to have to show the consumer where you did it, and how you did it.”
More articles on: olive oil fraud, olive oil labeling, technology
Jun. 20, 2023
Legislation in Switzerland Would Prohibit Nutri-Score
If the law passes, Switzerland will become the first country to adopt Nutri-Score, but later reverse course and prohibit the food label.
Mar. 28, 2023
Tunisian Officials See Bright Future for Local Olive Oil Industry
While producers face plenty of challenges, especially from climate change, Tunisian olive oil exports continue to gain ground in international markets.
Mar. 10, 2024
Researchers Use Ultrasound to Detect Adulterated Olive Oil
They could detect extra virgin olive oil adulterated with as little as one percent sunflower or refined olive oil.
Jul. 12, 2023
Quality Places Cambodian Importer on World Stage
Tiger Power imports Tunisian extra virgin olive oil produced on the company farm in Nabeul and sourced from other local growers.
Mar. 9, 2024
An Easier, Cheaper Method for Measuring Free Acidity
The new method requires a smartphone and fewer chemicals than the standard technique and may also be applicable to other critical analyses.
Oct. 31, 2023
Global Olive Oil Production Set for Second Straight Year of Decline
The world’s seven largest olive oil-producing countries are expected to yield 1.97 million tons in the 2023/24 crop year, 23 percent below the average of the previous four campaigns.
May. 4, 2023
Tunisian Producers Celebrate Victory After Season Plagued by Drought
Producers overcame the country’s severe drought and macroeconomic difficulties to win 27 awards at the World Competition.
May. 15, 2023
Smart Labels on Display at Italian Food Show
One of Italy’s premier food fairs highlighted tracking technologies to promote traceability and prevent fraud.