Global food company Smithfield Foods, together with Tyson Foods, AgBiome Innovations, Subway/Independent Purchasing Cooperative and Testo, has joined FoodLogiQ’s Blockchain Consortium.

FoodLogiQ is US-based software as a service (SaaS) provider of traceability, food safety and supply chain transparency solutions.

Together the companies will explore blockchain technology and the way it can be beneficial to their businesses.

FoodLogiQ CEO Jamie Duke said: “I’m very pleased that Smithfield has chosen to partner with us on this exciting blockchain initiative.

“The perspective they bring to the table is invaluable, and as we continue moving forward with this pilot we’ll draw on Smithfield’s production knowledge and their supply chain expertise to help guide our collective blockchain efforts.

“We have the privilege of working with some amazing individuals in this Consortium, visionary leaders who will contribute their time, their talents, and their experiences, as well as the support of the well-known brands they represent.”

The blockchain is an emerging technology and provides a platform for the companies to transact with each other and move assets around the world securely.

Smithfield Foods global chief information officer Julia Anderson said: “As a vertically-integrated company with an industry-leading sustainability programme, Smithfield upholds an exceptional reputation for traceability and transparency.

“Our partnership with the FoodLogiQ consortium allows us to be part of an ecosystem driving the deployment of blockchain within the food industry, further underscoring our commitment to producing good food the right way.”

Headquartered in the US, Smithfield Foods offers a wide range of packaged meat brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan’s Famous, Farmland, Armour, Farmer John, Kretschmar, John Morrell, Krakus and Berlinki.