Colorado considers blockchain for agricultural supply chain

Published: March 18, 2019

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The Colorado State Legislature is considering a bill that would compel government agencies to consider using Blockchain for managing the state’s agricultural supply chain.

The Colorado Legislature has a newly introduced bill, HB 19-1247, that would direct an advisory group to study the potential uses of Blockchain technology in agricultural operations. The advisory group would study how Blockchain could be used to monitor farm conditions, planting cycles, crop estimates, and transportation of livestock, corn, wheat, and other products. It also could have applications in inventory control and tracing, maintenance records, data verification and certification of organic products, tracking orders, and asset exchange.

If passed, the new advisory group would have until June 2020 to report back to the Legislature with potential recommendations for future legislation around the usage of Blockchain in the agriculture and food-supply sectors. Former Governor John Hickenlooper appointed a board of officials and local industry leaders, known as the Council for the Advance of Blockchain Technology, and at least one member of this group would be a part of the future advisory group.

Other states have explored, or are at least considering, the potential uses of Blockchain technology in government. West Virginia has used a Blockchain application to allow overseas voters to cast their ballots in the 2018 election, and the city of Denver is testing the same application in its upcoming local elections in May. Delaware already has a contract with IBM for a new corporate filing system based on Blockchain technology. Last year, Connecticut has formed a working group to analyze Blockchain and assess the benefits it could bring to the state. In December, Ohio held a workshop with industry experts examining the potential value creation it could bring and where it would be most effective. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has initiated a program to potentially improve food safety through the use of Blockchain.

These examples above indicate that state and local governments are at least interested in the technology, and some show pilot programs, or outright agreements in place, where it is already being applied. As the states continue to introduce legislation to explore its uses or investigate pilot programs using blockchain, it is clear that the technology remains an interest and potential priority for state governments looking forward.

Source: StateScoop