DURHAM, N.C. — Smithfield Foods Inc. announced on Nov. 14 that it would join FoodLogiQ for future blockchain solutions including the Food Industry Blockchain Consortium.

The consortium, led by SaaS provider FoodLogiQ, has a goal of delivering traceability and food safety throughout the supply chain. Members of the consortium include Tyson Foods Inc., Subway, AgBiome Innovations and Testo.

The goal of the consortium is to explore blockchain technology and how it can benefit their business.

"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," said Julia Anderson, global chief information officer for Smithfield Foods

Blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger for recording the history of transactions. When used in the food supply chain, benefits include efficiency and transparency in such areas as product recalls and product certifications.

"Blockchain R&D is at an all-time high, and we're proud to be a food industry forerunner in this technology," said FoodLogiQ CEO Jamie Duke. "This first-time gathering of our blockchain participants will bring together some of the biggest names in the food space for an in-depth evaluation of the current state of blockchain - both the opportunities and the challenges - as well as the effects the technology is having on our industry as a whole.

The first meeting of the Food Industry Blockchain Consortium will be Dec. 13-14 in Durham, North Carolina.

Other companies such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, CKE Restaurants, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Hain-Celestial, Whole Foods Market and Buffalo Wild Wings are also customers of FoodLogiQ.