STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The head of the
blockchain advisory business at leading global technology research
and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III)
today called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
offer clear, practical guidance on designing blockchain
programs to improve food safety.
Speaking at the FDA public meeting, "A New Era of Smarter Food
Safety," today in Rockville, Md.,
Alex Manders, director and global
leader of ISG Blockchain Now™, said the FDA should commission a
federal research study on blockchain vendors, solutions and
investment options and provide guidance for enterprises across the
food supply chain on how to leverage blockchain technology to
improve food safety.
"I have found the primary challenges with blockchain technology
adoption are non-technical," Manders said. "I believe the FDA has
demonstrated leadership to address these challenges, and should
consider an FDA-sanctioned blockchain research study designed to
outline and assess technology and solution providers, software
vendors, options for investment and collaboration, digital supply
chains and change management methodologies – in part, to reduce
paper-based records."
Manders said the FDA guidance that would result from a
blockchain research study would address the primary challenges to
blockchain implementation in the food and beverage industry
today.
"Based on my observations, the top challenges facing the food
and beverage industry are incomplete awareness and understanding of
blockchain technology vendors, solutions and business-to-business
collaboration models; a lack of established industry and governance
frameworks, and markets influenced by supply chain participants
with a disproportionate pool of resources," he said.
Noting the potential for blockchain to offer reliable and
transformative transparency throughout the entire food supply
chain, from growers to consumers, Manders also called for the FDA
to consider appropriating funds or establishing grants for farmers,
harvesters, distributors and retailers to implement distributed
ledger technology and operating models.
While calling for federal research studies, Manders cautioned
against over-regulating, noting, "We have seen an exciting
explosion of new food, beverage and snack products in virtually
every market category in the U.S. over the past five years. This
innovation and competition give consumers more choices. New
requirements may impede product innovation and could slow the
adoption of real-world blockchain track-and-trace solutions
comparable to Walmart's ability to digitally see a supply chain
journey from harvest to consumer."
ISG recently launched ISG Blockchain XChange™, a comprehensive
research database and community collaboration platform built on
ISG's comprehensive, up-to-date industry data, offering the first
and only "one-stop source" for information on blockchain consortia
and industry-specific blockchain use cases. This platform is part
of the ISG Blockchain Now solution suite, launched in 2018 to help
clients identify and realize high-ROI opportunities to leverage
blockchain technology to improve upon legacy technology, optimize
existing business processes and enhance data security.
About ISG
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading
global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business
partner to more than 700 clients, including more than 70 of the top
100 enterprises in the world, ISG is committed to helping
corporations, public sector organizations, and service and
technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster
growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services,
including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory;
managed governance and risk services; network carrier services;
strategy and operations design; change management; market
intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006,
and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG
employs more than 1,300 digital-ready professionals operating in
more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative
thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise,
and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the
industry's most comprehensive marketplace data. For more
information, visit www.isg-one.com.
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SOURCE Information Services Group, Inc.