Spain's fishing sector, an industry with extraordinary growth potential, is investing in blockchain technology to improve the traceability and sustainability of this productive sector in the country.
Spain produces, on average, About 20% of all fisheries production in the European Union, more than 940.600 tons of fresh fish per year and a turnover of 2.147 millones de euros, according to him report of the Spanish Fishing Confederation (Cepesca)However, this sector faces major challenges, ranging from an outdated fishing fleet to illegal fishing and a lack of young workers willing to participate in this industry. As a result, despite Spain's potential within this sector, production has been affected in recent years.
As a result, the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (Cepesca) is presenting an ambitious investment plan, the aim of which is to transform, reactivate and optimise the fishing industry in the country. To achieve this, the Confederation will invest significant resources in technology blockchain and Artificial Intelligence that will be destined to transform the sector in a period of 3 years, starting this 2021 and ending in 2023. The investment is part of the Agri-food and Fisheries Recovery Plan of the country, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and which is focused on ecological transition, digital transformation, gender equality and social cohesion.
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142 million for blockchain
For the digital transformation, the Confederation will have 142 million euros available for the construction of a digital infrastructure, based on blockchain, that allows the registration and control of the entire supply chain of the sector and that guarantees traceability, in addition to implementing a program to reduce marine pollution and promote telemedicine throughout the fishing axis of Spain. In total, Cepesca's plan covers 381 million euros destined to make the Spanish fishing sector resilient, competitive and sustainable.
An initiative that was born in Galicia
The Secretary General of Cepesca, Javier Garat, points out that in Galicia, where one of the main ports for fresh fish in Europe is located, the average age is over 40 years, and that generational change for this industry is one of the biggest limitations for fishing exploitation. For this reason, the organization's project is also driven to attract and capture young labor through the generation of employment and value.
Likewise, the consultant Deloitte, which participated in the design of the Cepesca plan, points out that to truly boost the sector and make it sustainable, the route must lead towards digital transformation, taking advantage of all the potential offered by new technologies in development for the simplification and optimization of processes. In this way, the consultancy firm points out, it will be possible to achieve the development and sustainability of fishing activities and achieve social cohesion that guarantees the continuity of the fishing sector.
In this plan, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence will ensure the traceability of fishing products and data management. Likewise, both technologies will allow fishing fleets to connect directly with operators on land and with the rest of the value chain. Also, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence will allow the implementation of a training and action plan to minimize maritime pollution, with training accessible to crews and personnel located on land.
Fish World trace, the digital platform for the fishing sector
In Galicia, an innovative initiative is already being developed that seeks to promote the sustainability of the fishing industry through new technologies. Fish World Track It is a digital platform based on Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), which allows consumers to have access to the origin of fishing products and companies to have access to precise and quality information, allowing them to operate more efficiently with their customers and the environment.
This platform allows you to manage the supply chain; manage certifications and quality controls of processes; view the traceability of fishery products through QR codes; automate manual processes; improve information security; efficiently control food alerts; optimize, control and save operational and production costs; enhance the image of companies and much more, all this while guaranteeing maximum transparency, veracity and immutability thanks to the potential of blockchain technology.
Other blockchain use cases in Spain this year
In addition to the fishing sector, other industries are also beginning to innovate in blockchain. For example, the wine importer From Maison Selections has been one of the first to join IBM's blockchain platform, VinAssure, which allows producers and consumers to know the entire wine supply chain, and thus, verify their quality.
To find out or verify the origin of a bottle of wine, consumers only need to scan the QR code and they will have access to the entire supply chain. To date, several of the most renowned wineries in Spain are part of this platform, such as La Rioja, Navarra, the Basque Country, Asturias, Andalusia, Galicia, Catalonia, Castile and Leon and Mallorca.
Another Spanish industry that is also innovating in blockchain is the railways and ports. In these, blockchain technology allows logistics information to be recorded and controlled efficiently. In November, the Spanish government, together with the State Ports Agency, ADIF and the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, allocated a total of 2,7 million euros for the creation of a national digital platform, based on blockchain, that integrates all the information on freight transport and logistics activities in Spain.
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