TE-FOOD Blockchain Platform for Food Traceability
Sector: Primary sector · Industry: Agriculture · Organisation: TE-FOOD International Ltd. · Maturity level: Production
TE-FOOD is a blockchain-based platform for complete food traceability from producer to consumer. The platform improves transparency in food supply chains and enables companies and consumers to track the entire journey of a product. The system supports various identification technologies such as barcodes and RFID chips and is already deployed in Vietnam.
Documentation status
- Project status: Production
- Evidence: Evidence medium
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
Fraunhofer FIT (Institute for Applied Information Technology) analysed in a whitepaper on food tech platforms the potential of blockchain for food traceability from farm to consumer. The approach combines blockchain with IoT sensors for automatic data capture along the food supply chain.
Food fraud costs the EU an estimated 49 billion euros annually: false organic labels, forged origin claims (PDO/PGI), horsemeat scandals, horsemeat sold as beef. Blockchain systems can structurally address these problems because once entered, data cannot be manipulated. The Fraunhofer FIT whitepaper describes architectural patterns for food tech platforms: IoT sensors in the field and in refrigerated vehicles automatically record temperature, humidity and GPS position; the data are documented as immutable blockchain transactions. Consumers can track the complete journey of a product via QR code scan — including certification proof. Particularly relevant: temperature-sensitive foods (meat, dairy products, seafood) — cold chain interruptions are a common quality defect that often goes unnoticed. Blockchain documentation makes every deviation immediately visible. Fraunhofer FIT is also the founding institute of the SapientBlock project and the Blockchain Reallabor in Hürth.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Food manufacturers and retailers can back up organic and origin certifications with immutable production data — the basis for EUDR-compliant documentation and effective protection against fraud allegations.
B2C — consumers perspective
Consumers can verify via QR code scans that organic labels are genuine and that the product really comes from the declared region of origin — instead of relying on blanket trust statements from the manufacturer.
Employees perspective
Employees in production and quality assurance receive digital tools for efficient documentation of their work steps. The integration of various technologies such as mobile apps and Excel upload greatly facilitates daily work.
Benefits
General
- Blockchain technology ensures immutable and trustworthy documentation of all supply chain steps.
- Rapid identification of affected product batches in quality issues significantly reduces recall costs.
- Increased transparency strengthens consumer trust and enables premium prices for traceable products.
B2B — organisations
- Companies can meet their compliance requirements more efficiently and simplify audits through digital documentation.
B2C — consumers
- Consumers gain full control over the origin of their food and can make informed purchasing decisions.
Employees
- Employees save time through automated documentation processes and can focus on value-adding activities.
Challenges
General
- Integration with existing IT systems requires technical expertise and can be complex.
- All actors in the supply chain must be motivated to participate in order to achieve full transparency.
B2B — organisations
- Companies need to adapt their business processes and train employees in the new technology.
Employees
- Employees must get used to new digital workflows and learn to use blockchain-based systems.
Technology foundation
The platform uses a permissioned blockchain technology with its own TFD token system for transactions and incentives. This type of blockchain is particularly suitable for supply chains as it allows controlled access while guaranteeing data immutability.
Implementation examples
TE-FOOD implementation in Vietnam
Vietnam had problems with food safety and a lack of consumer trust in local products. TE-FOOD was intended to solve these challenges through complete transparency and traceability.
TE-FOOD was successfully implemented in Vietnam to improve transparency in the food supply chain. The platform is used by various partners and contributes to food safety.
Since 2016, TE-FOOD has been active in Vietnam and has established a functioning ecosystem for food traceability there. The implementation includes various stakeholders in the food supply chain, from producers to retailers. The system supports different identification technologies and offers flexible integration options via APIs and mobile applications.
The platform addressed a lack of transparency in supply chains and enabled faster responses to food safety issues. For the first time, consumers were given the opportunity to fully trace the origin of their food.
Tags
Supply chain, Transparency, Food safety, Traceability, Token