Blockchain-based Orange Juice Traceability
Sector: Secondary sector · Industry: Food and beverage industry · Organisation: Albert Heijn · Maturity level: Production
Albert Heijn uses blockchain technology for complete traceability of orange juice from Brazilian Rainforest Alliance-certified plantations. Customers can track the entire supply chain from cultivation to supermarket shelf using QR codes and an app. The system went live in 2019 and was implemented in just five months.
Documentation status
- Project status: Production
- Evidence: Evidence high
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
Blockchain traceability of organic products protects the organic added value: consumers pay a 20-100% premium for organic — blockchain proves that this premium is justified.
Organic fraud is a significant problem: conventional products are relabelled as organic; certificates are forged; proof of origin is paper-based and can be manipulated. Blockchain solves this: every step from sowing to shelf is documented on-chain; third parties (organic certifiers, testing institutes) confirm intermediate milestones; consumers scan a QR code on the product. IBM Food Trust and Walmart have proven the model with mangoes and lettuce — directly transferable to organic supply chains.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Organic food retailers and supermarkets can structurally eliminate organic fraud with blockchain-secured proof of origin and strengthen consumer trust through verifiable transparency.