Dr. Nir Kshetri, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Dr. Nir Kshetri will discuss his paper The Impacts of Blockchain on the Production and Distribution of Food and Beverage Products.

Abstract: This paper examines the potential roles of blockchain in ensuring quality, safety and sustainability in the production and distribution of food and beverage products. A multiple case study approach has been chosen as the principal methodology. The article gives special consideration to mechanisms underlying the impacts of blockchain on interfirm governance structures in the food and beverage industry. It explains how blockchain may reduce uncertainty in the actions of various supply chain participants in this industry. The article shows how blockchain is likely to make dependence among supply chain partners more symmetric thereby reducing opportunism. It suggests that by stimulating entrepreneurial opportunities for disadvantaged groups and promoting distributive fairness, blockchain can contribute to the sustainability of social systems. The paper alsodemonstrates how blockchain can help deal with risk situations such as crisis and emergency response and promote sustainability of business models.