News: Prime UK and iov42 to Enhance Trust in the Halal Meat Industry with Blockchain Technology

The Blockchain Demonstrator Challenge Fund* will aid the companies in improving trust in the accreditation & certification schemes of the halal market, to strengthen digital identity, data integrity, transparency, and authenticity in the local Welsh meat industry

Cardiff, United Kingdom, 31st May 2023 – Prime UK, a leading Cardiff-based compliance services provider, is proud to announce its collaboration with iov42, a UK-based blockchain-inspired technology company, on an innovative project aimed at enhancing trust and transparency in the halal meat industry. This groundbreaking initiative has received funding from Blockchain Connected, with support from the Welsh Government.

The halal meat industry plays a significant role in Wales, constituting nearly half (43%) of the region’s entire agricultural output. Recognizing the need to improve certification schemes and traceability within this market, Prime UK and iov42 are set to create a platform that leverages blockchain technology to build trust, improve data integrity, transparency, and authenticity.

Over the next months, Prime UK and iov42 will join forces to develop a purpose-built data-sharing platform. This platform will establish permanent, secure historical records for accreditation bodies, certification bodies, inspection bodies, testing laboratories, regulators, local authorities, suppliers, and customers, facilitating product provenance tracking and halal compliance verification. This technology is pivotal in addressing the challenges of ensuring halal compliance from farm to table.

Akbar Ali Chaudhry, Technical Director at Prime UK, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “We were looking for a pioneering technology partner to help us instill trust in our certification journey and improve the reliability of provenance for the halal market. We’re thrilled that Blockchain Connected saw the potential of this collaboration, and we can’t wait to create a solution that will ensure maximum trust and reassurance within the halal industry.”

Avril Lewis, Managing Director of Technology Connected, commented on the potential of blockchain technology, stating, “The potential for blockchain is unlimited and universal, yet not well understood. As part of the Technology Connected family, Blockchain Connected is building the blockchain community in Wales. We are developing awareness, promoting blockchain’s impact, and championing its needs. The Blockchain Demonstrator Challenge Fund projects, such as the innovative collaboration between iov42 and Prime UK, will help to demonstrate the potential of blockchain and showcase Wales as a growing center of excellence for its applications.”

David Coleman, Chief Product Officer at iov42, emphasized the role of Distributed Ledger Technology in building confidence and transparency in complex supply chains, stating, “Our technology was designed to help improve traceability in industries just like this. Prime UK is the ideal partner to demonstrate how Distributed Ledger Technology can be used to build business and consumer confidence and inspire cross-industry traceability and transparency in complex supply chains.”

With increasing regulations, such as the UK Environment Act 2021 and the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), demanding greater due diligence in forest risk commodities, including beef supply, traceability systems are becoming essential to ensure sustainable and legal supply chains.

This collaborative project between Prime UK and iov42 is part of Blockchain Connected’s broader initiative, ‘Demonstrating the Potential of Blockchain,’ funded by the Welsh Government. The initiative aims to explore the capabilities of blockchain technology and provide real-world case studies of how it can contribute to social, economic, and environmental benefits in Wales and beyond.