Blockchain Usage of Federal Agencies Due to Its Benefits

Federal agencies are turning to blockchain technology for its transparency, efficiency, security, and flexibility. Based on FedTech magazine, some agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA, and the Department of Treasury started using blockchain.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials needed an effective way to help them track data on the H1N1 swine flu virus that started to spread again back in 2017. Thus, officials at the FDA find that adapting blockchain technology might be the best way.

Henry Francis is the associate director for data mining and informatics evaluation and research at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. He already successfully develops a blockchain-based application that automatically allows them to gain encrypted data in real-time from various sources.

Francis mentioned that the real-time Application for Portable Interactive Devices (RAPID) program is one of the first full-blown blockchain implementations in the federal government. But still, the interest in technology is increasing.

With the Management

The Department of Treasury’s Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation (FIT) also shifted to the blockchain. Its initial application was for tracing mobile devices, and its second application was for software licenses management.

FIT also tested whether the use of blockchain might develop grant payment processes in cooperation with the National Science Foundation.

In the early blockchain trials, it showed promise but noted that FIT must learn more about the technology. This would allow them to manage it efficiently and match it with best-use cases.

Also, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is using distributed ledger technology to boost its bulk purchasing power, diminish its reporting burden, reduce costs for industry partners and enhance record-keeping for vendor transactions.

Then, the FDA is currently investigating how it can use blockchain to track and manage threats to food safety across the nation’s wide and decentralized food system. It also aims to boost transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Indian Farmers

Meanwhile, food industry officials in the United Arad Emirates might have a blockchain-based supply for agricultural products. These will be coming in from India directly.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would use Agriota E-Marketplace – a new platform that employs blockchain technology. This will aid them in connecting the gap between farmers in India and the nation’s food industry. Agriota works by verifying the food supply chain from Indian farms to food processing firms, traders, and wholesalers in the UAE.

Aside from that, the platform will let Indian farmers connect directly with food industry companies in the UAE. And they would do this to offer cereal, seeds, fruits, vegetables, spices, and condiments. India exported over $1 billion of food products to the UAE in 2019. This is based on its Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority data.

Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Pavan Kapoor, stated, “The UAE has a comprehensive plan in place to secure food security and champion agribusiness trade facilitation.”

And this is with the primary goal of placing its nation as a world-leading hub in innovation-driven food security.