Mastercard blockchain adds visibility to cattle supply chain | Technology

Greater visibility will be brought to Africa’s largely opaque livestock supply chain with the introduction of a new system powered by Mastercard’s blockchain-based Provenance solution. 

Traceability company E-Livestock Global is rolling out its unique solution to cattle farmers in Zimbabwe, giving farmers more control over proving the origin and health records of their herd. 

How does E-Livestock Global work? 

• Commercial farmers and dipping officers tag each individual cattle with a unique RFID tag
• Each head of cattle is registered to its owner through the digital platform 
• The platform is updated each time cattle are dipped, vaccinated or receive other treatment 
• The records are stored and updated using Mastercard’s immutable blockchain Provenance solution 
• Buyers and suppliers can access the single source of truth, building stronger supply chains 

The technology aims to bring end-to-end visibility to the cattle supply chain and provide irrefutable data to supply chain leaders. “Tracking the medical history of cattle on a tamper-proof blockchain ledger will foster renewed trust in Zimbabwean cattle farming and re-establish Zimbabwe’s credibility as an international beef exporter,” says Max Makuvise, Founder and President of E-Livestock Global. 

The solution “will also open up new opportunities for farmers” Makuvise adds, particularly in reopening exports to Europe and the Middle East, lucrative markets that have until now been out of reach due to lack of traceability. 

Visibility opens new export markets 

Proof of provenance will increase the value of cattle, allowing farmers to properly support sales growth and access financial backing using the livestock as a collateral asset for loans. Buyers, on the other side of the equation, will be provided a guarantee of quality and the ability to mitigate risk, a particularly relevant point given an outbreak of tick-borne disease in 2018, which led to the culling of around 50,000 cattle and damaged the reputation of suppliers in the region. 

Mark Elliott, Division President of Mastercard, Southern Africa, said the digital solution will bring renewed trust to the sector, which “is essential for a functioning and reliable value chain”. 

“At Mastercard, we believe that seamless supply chain transparency can help convey authenticity, expand inclusion, share sustainability practices and improve back-office efficiencies,” he added. “Our globally-scaled technology and established network capabilities are advancing this process, enabling smarter buying decisions and inclusion of all players, whatever their size.”

Mastercard’s Provenance Solution employs real-time, immutable data on the blockchain to allow buyers and suppliers to transact with full accountability. Mastercard says the platform ‘helps provide a clear record of traceability designed to contribute to customer confidence, trust and awareness’.