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Description
The project will allow the creation of an online and offline certification system for sustainable products from the sea and aquaculture, through the attribution of badges that classify the production process in various dimensions of the product depending on the level of information collected, both by the producer, as well as by other interested parties, such as the consumer. This will generate an open and decentralized market for Transparent and Comprehensive Certification of Sustainable Products and add value to the final consumer and to responsible producers and distributors based on a differentiated experience at the point of consumption (online and offline). Several pilots in the field will be implemented, with regulatory entities as well as with producers, distributors and consumers to digitalize, dematerialize and democratize the process of certification and validation of sustainable products. This will ensure that the agents in the value chain who most adhere to existing good practices are valued, and that obtaining, maintaining and updating those certifications are extremely simple and inexpensive processes as it will take advantage of the systems already in use today, regardless of the size of the producer''s business (thus facilitating access to this market for small producers).Main activities:Development of a decentralized governance model, based on blockchain, in which market agents can operate and interact freely, creating and dematerializing the rules underlying the approved certificatesSpecification and implementation of digital contracts that allow the issuance of certificates related to blue economyIncorporation of value chain storytelling into the brand identityTests with partners in the field, creating the first commercial network with three directions: (1) suppliers, distributors, producers; (2) regulators, certifiers; and retailers, online commerce.
Summary of project results
The disproportionate increase in awareness has led to a greater demand for sustainable products, which has also led to consumers feeling more confused about the issue. Today, organic products, local sources, fair trade, minimum wage guarantee, cruelty-free and carbon neutral are all part of the consumer taxonomy, but their meaning is not fully understood by consumers, leading to misunderstandings that undermine consumer confidence and limit the reach and impact of new practices on the environment and the development of society. For example, 48% of consumers say that current environmental labels are unclear and only 6% of EU citizens trust producers’ claims about the environmental performance of their products. In addition to this limited perception by consumers, the supply side is also called into question, given that today a company is not only judged by its direct suppliers, but increasingly by its suppliers’ suppliers and how business practices in general result in a quality end product, based on sustainable practices throughout the value chain. This project seeks to address all these issues by offering full accountability and transparency to brands, allowing consumers to verify and validate the main premises of each badge assigned to the product and, consequently, trust the underlying process and its results. The badges will allow brands to establish their main differentiating attributes through a digital labeling system that can be verified by consumers at the product or brand level and whose algorithmic nature is governed by the governance model to be created with the project, which is fully open source, transparent and governed in a decentralized manner. These badges support the framing of the project in this “Business Development, Innovation and SMEs” notice, given that, by proposing the development of an innovative, transparent, safe and sustainable certification process, based on the awarding of badges, it will contribute to “increasing the competitiveness of Portuguese companies within the scope of Blue Growth”, also allowing the creation of value for brands and products, also supporting the sustainable growth of the Portuguese blue economy.
- Resource management - The emphasis was on optimizing and efficiently controlling the resources essential for carrying out the project, ranging from human resources to material and financial aspects. This task was successfully completed. - Project and knowledge management - Project management was improved through control and coordination of activities, while simultaneously promoting effective knowledge management, ensuring the efficient sharing of crucial information. This task was successfully completed. - Coordination with the managing entity - The importance of close coordination with the managing entity is highlighted, involving constant communication and strategic alignment. This task was completed successfully. - Risk and innovation management - Risks were identified and mitigated, based on an approach focused on innovation management, which aimed to incorporate new ideas and practices throughout the development of the project. This task was successfully completed.
This certification will result in a set of user-friendly badges that will be made available in an authenticated form on retailers'' online and offline channels. It will provide a "layered" approach to certification where companies can not only get official certification from independent agencies and apply them via blockchain but also, each participant in the value chain can guarantee the authenticity and quality of each transaction. In this way, the more data (and of higher quality) each producer and their stakeholders introduce into their value chain, the stronger the "proof of work" for the final product and the greater the transparency consumers will have regarding it.