[2017-06-24] HIndu: Digital startup to track product origins

Digital startup to track product origins

http://www.thehindu.com/specials/impact-journalism-day-2017/digital-startup-to-track-product-origins/article19126102.ece

It was when Jessi Baker was studying for her PhD in computer science that she realised her passion project was becoming too important to ignore. She put her PhD on hold and, armed with zeal for digital disruption, focused her attention full time on Provenance.

The software platform is a means to help people find out where products are sourced from, and how ethically and sustainably. It is designed to improve the transparency of supply chains and, at the same time, promote brands that commit to ethical sourcing, fair working conditions, quality and sustainability.

At the heart of Provenance is blockchain technology, which is best known for powering the paperless, bankless and stateless currency Bitcoin. Blockchain is a means of recording and storing enormous amounts of transactional data. The data, which is unique and cannot be tampered with, can include contracts, receipts, and supplier spreadsheets. Provenance data can be linked to any physical product, from coffee beans to fish, through labelling, smart tags and embeds for websites or apps.