Elsewhere on Ulster
Discover how Ulster University’s Professor Trevor Cadden and the Protein-I project are using blockchain technology to build transparency, sustainability and trust in Northern Ireland’s food and farming industry — from field to fork.
Northern Ireland’s farmers and food producers have always been known for quality, hard work and pride in their produce. From beef and dairy, to grains, vegetables and artisan goods, our reputation for good food travels far beyond our shores.
But as the world changes, so too does the way we prove the quality and sustainability of what we grow and produce. Across the island, there is a growing demand for greater traceability and transparency.
People want to know not just what they are eating, but where it came from, how it was produced and how it affects the environment. Meeting these expectations can be challenging, particularly for small farms and food businesses juggling paperwork, supply contracts and sustainability targets.
That is where our all-island research project, Protein-I, comes in. Bringing together universities and partners across the island we have been working to explore new ways of building a more sustainable and transparent food system. At Ulster University, we are leading the work on how blockchain technology can help.
Blockchain can sound technical, but the idea is simple. It is a secure digital record that stores information in a way that cannot be changed or tampered with.
Think of it as a shared farm diary that everyone in the food chain can see and trust. Each time something happens, a crop is harvested, milk collected or goods transported, that event is logged automatically and time-stamped.
Linked together, these entries build a complete, tamperproof story of a product’s journey from field to fork. For farmers and producers, it means less paperwork and duplication, and more confidence that their work is properly recorded.
For consumers, it provides real proof that their food is local, sustainable and responsibly made.
To see how this works in practice, Protein-I has been trialled with local producers, including Canvas Brewery in County Tipperary. This family-run farm grows its own malting barley, uses spring water from the farm, and powers its brewery with renewable energy.
Using the blockchain system, Canvas Brewery was able to bring all its production and energy data together in one place. Every stage, from growing barley to bottling beer, was recorded securely.
Each can during this pilot carried a QR code that customers could scan to see its full story, including the verified carbon footprint.
The brewery could show how it used its own grain, its own power and its own water, while customers could see exactly what goes into their pint. It is a small change with a big impact on trust and transparency.
The success of the pilot shows how blockchain can help farmers and small food producers bring greater transparency and trust to what they do.
It creates a clear record of every step in production, reduces paperwork and helps prove sustainability credentials that are increasingly important for export and retail markets.
While the technology behind it is complex, the goal is simple. It aims to build a food system that rewards quality, supports sustainability and strengthens trust between farmers, processors and consumers, protecting farming for the future by proving its value in a clear and reliable way.
Protein-I is a shared-island project, jointly funded by Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and delivered in partnership with Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, University College Dublin, Teagasc, University College Cork and the University of Galway.
