ISG Executive Calls for Federal Blockchain Research, Funding to Improve Food Safety

At FDA public meeting, Manders proposes federal resources to establish guidelines and support blockchain implementation across food supply chain

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Information Services Group, Inc.

Oct 21, 2019, 16:16 ET

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The head of the blockchain advisory business at leading global technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III) today called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to offer clear, practical guidance on designing blockchain programs to improve food safety.

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Alex Manders, head of blockchain services for Information Services Group, a leading global technology research and advisory firm, addresses a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) public meeting, "A New Era of Smarter Food Safety," today in Rockville, Md. Manders urged the FDA to commission a federal research study on leveraging blockchain technology to track and trace products through the entire food supply chain as a way to improve food safety. He also called for the FDA to consider appropriating funds or establishing grants for farmers, harvesters, distributors and retailers to implement distributed ledger technology and operating models.
Alex Manders, head of blockchain services for Information Services Group, a leading global technology research and advisory firm, addresses a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) public meeting, "A New Era of Smarter Food Safety," today in Rockville, Md. Manders urged the FDA to commission a federal research study on leveraging blockchain technology to track and trace products through the entire food supply chain as a way to improve food safety. He also called for the FDA to consider appropriating funds or establishing grants for farmers, harvesters, distributors and retailers to implement distributed ledger technology and operating models.

Speaking at the FDA public meeting, "A New Era of Smarter Food Safety," today in Rockville, Md., Alex Manders, director and global leader of ISG Blockchain Now™, said the FDA should commission a federal research study on blockchain vendors, solutions and investment options and provide guidance for enterprises across the food supply chain on how to leverage blockchain technology to improve food safety.

"I have found the primary challenges with blockchain technology adoption are non-technical," Manders said. "I believe the FDA has demonstrated leadership to address these challenges, and should consider an FDA-sanctioned blockchain research study designed to outline and assess technology and solution providers, software vendors, options for investment and collaboration, digital supply chains and change management methodologies – in part, to reduce paper-based records."

Manders said the FDA guidance that would result from a blockchain research study would address the primary challenges to blockchain implementation in the food and beverage industry today.

"Based on my observations, the top challenges facing the food and beverage industry are incomplete awareness and understanding of blockchain technology vendors, solutions and business-to-business collaboration models; a lack of established industry and governance frameworks, and markets influenced by supply chain participants with a disproportionate pool of resources," he said.

Noting the potential for blockchain to offer reliable and transformative transparency throughout the entire food supply chain, from growers to consumers, Manders also called for the FDA to consider appropriating funds or establishing grants for farmers, harvesters, distributors and retailers to implement distributed ledger technology and operating models.

While calling for federal research studies, Manders cautioned against over-regulating, noting, "We have seen an exciting explosion of new food, beverage and snack products in virtually every market category in the U.S. over the past five years. This innovation and competition give consumers more choices. New requirements may impede product innovation and could slow the adoption of real-world blockchain track-and-trace solutions comparable to Walmart's ability to digitally see a supply chain journey from harvest to consumer." 

ISG recently launched ISG Blockchain XChange™, a comprehensive research database and community collaboration platform built on ISG's comprehensive, up-to-date industry data, offering the first and only "one-stop source" for information on blockchain consortia and industry-specific blockchain use cases. This platform is part of the ISG Blockchain Now solution suite, launched in 2018 to help clients identify and realize high-ROI opportunities to leverage blockchain technology to improve upon legacy technology, optimize existing business processes and enhance data security.

About ISG

ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 700 clients, including more than 70 of the top 100 enterprises in the world, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,300 digital-ready professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry's most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.

SOURCE Information Services Group, Inc.

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