Adelaide AgTech startup T-Provenance has raised $500,000 to pilot its blockchain technology with Northern Australian mango producers, as part of a two-year project being managed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA).

The funding includes a $300,000 grant from the CRCDNA, as well as Data61.

The CRCNA was established by the Australian Government as part of its $6.2 billion commitment to help businesses, governments, and researchers work together to identify growth opportunities for businesses in the north.

Over the next 10 years, the CRCNA will invest $75 million of Commonwealth funding to support industry-led collaborations in three areas: agriculture and food, tropical health service delivery, and traditional owner-led business development.

Andrew Grant, co-founder of Availer, the AgTech betaworks responsible for co-founding T-Provenance, said the project is a clear example of the growing engagement between industry and government.

“I think the CRC for Northern Australia are very much focused on that industry engagement and we see, as a startup company, getting this kind of support is absolutely vital to accelerating these technologies,” he said.

T-Provenance will initially work with Queensland horticulture peak body Growcom and mango producer Manbulloo to integrate its technology to monitor mangoes through the supply chain – from farm to retailer – to ensure food safety, quality, traceability and authenticity.

Internet of Things-enabled sensors and smart chips will be used to monitor things like temperature and humidity, and any other parameters to help understand and improve the mango supply chain.

The collected data will then be fed through a blockchain application layer, which will be made accessible via a dashboard for distributors, wholesalers, producers and retailers to view.

Source: https://www.innovationaus.com/news/