Blockchain Solution for Tomato Traceability: The SAFE4TOM Project

The SAFE4TOM Operational Group (OG) is a Regional OG in Extremadura (Spain) that brings together different players from the agri-food and technology sectors to achieve a common goal: the creation of a Blockchain solution in the complex traceability system for processing tomato. In this regard, Operational Groups are key elements in the development of the European Innovation Partnership for productive and sustainable agriculture. They are groups of actors with different profiles who come together to achieve innovation in order to solve a problem or take advantage of an opportunity, with a joint and multisectoral approach.

The Extremadura region is the leading producer of processing tomatoes for the Spanish food industry, grown in the Guadiana and Alagón Árrago valleys. The area under tomato cultivation in Extremadura has increased exponentially since 2001, from 17,000 hectares to 24,000 hectares in 2024.

This sector is perfectly suited to the project idea proposed in GO SAFE4TOM, for several reasons:

• Production leadership in Spain and Europe: Extremadura accounts for around 70% of the processing tomatoes produced in Spain and is one of the largest processing hubs in Europe.
• Integrated value chain: There is a consolidated network of cooperatives, processing companies and industrial plants that produce paste, concentrate, sauces and derivatives for national and international markets. This integration guarantees stability for farmers.
• International and export projection: A large part of the processed production is destined for export, making tomatoes a strategic product for Extremadura’s agri-food trade balance.
• Impact on employment and the regional economy: Processing tomato generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the field, logistics and processing. They account for more than 20% of the turnover of the Extremadura food industry, making them the most important agro-industrial subsector.

GO SAFE4TOM, what is it based on?

Traceability in the food industry is essential to guarantee safety, quality and consumer confidence. It consists of recording and tracking every stage a product goes through, from primary production to distribution and final sale. This makes it possible to quickly identify affected batches in the event of health incidents, reduce risks to public health and avoid significant economic losses. In addition, traceability not only responds to legal requirements, but has also become a factor in competitiveness, as consumers increasingly demand transparency about the origin and production conditions of food.

In this context, Blockchain technology is an innovative tool that reinforces traditional traceability systems. Blockchain allows information to be recorded in a decentralised, immutable manner that is accessible to all agents in the supply chain. Each transaction or movement of the product is recorded in a block, digitally sealed and connected to the previous block, which prevents from manipulation or alteration of the information.

Its application in the food industry offers multiple advantages. On the one hand, it increases safety, as any attempt at fraud would be immediately exposed. On the other hand, it improves transparency, as producers, distributors, authorities and consumers can consult data on the origin, transport or certification of a food product in real time. This additional trust strengthens the relationship between business and consumer and opens the door to more demanding markets, where traceability is an essential requirement. This gave rise to the GO SAFE4TOM project, which involves CONESA (representative), IAAS365 and TEPRO (as beneficiaries) and, lastly, the National Agri-Food Technology Centre (CTAEX, as subcontracted innovation agent).

The overall objective of GO SAFE4TOM is to design, implement and evaluate a complex traceability architecture for the processing tomato sector, based on Blockchain technology, with the aim of providing this sector with a solution that allows for greater efficiency, security and transparency in the production chain.

In short, with GO SAFE4TOM, the combination of traceability and Blockchain can make the processing tomato sector a more reliable, efficient sector that is better prepared to face the challenges of a globalised market.

GO SAFE4TOM results

The main result of this Operational Group has been the creation of a new service, a traceability platform based on Blockchain and adapted to the processing tomato sector.

With this tool, the last link in the chain (in this case, processed tomatoes) generates a label containing a QR code that can be read by any mobile device, providing an interface that displays the following information:

• General product information: type of processed tomato, batch number, best-before date and name of the processing company.
• Product origin: region where the processing tomato was grown, indicating the harvest season, the cultivar of processing tomato contained in that batch, and the type of production (integrated production, organic farming, etc.).
• Product processing: location of the factory where the tomatoes were processed.
• Quality commitment: access to the quality report for the processed tomatoes in that batch.
• Information about the processing factory, including contact details.

In addition to the advantages that blockchain technology brings to traceability processes in the food industry, such as the immutability of records and the reliability of information, it guarantees another key advantage: transparency. As it is a decentralised system, the information does not depend on a single entity but is available to all actors in the chain: producers, processors, distributors, authorities and consumers. This facilitates access to real-time data and strengthens confidence in products. Blockchain also increases process efficiency. The speed with which a batch can be traced in the event of a food alert is multiplied, allowing immediate action to be taken and minimising risks to public health. These results were shared with the sector at an information session held at the National Agri-Food Technology Centre (CTAEX) on 29 August 2025. At the event, Juan Ignacio Gutiérrez (CTAEX) introduced the general objectives of the project, followed by Emilio Bravo (Tepro Extremadura), who explained the current traceability process implemented by his organisation in greenhouses and fields. Leticia Porrón (Conesa) showed the current traceability process in the processing industry, clarifying the link with the documentation handled by producers in terms of traceability. Finally, José María de Tena (IaaS365) explained the particularities of the SAFE4TOM system, based on Hyperledger Fabric.

The innovative project Creation of a blockchain solution in the complex traceability system for processing tomato GO SAFE4TOM is 85% funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) under the Extremadura Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2022, measure 16 ‘Cooperation’ sub-measure 16. 1 ‘Aid for the creation and operation of AEI operational groups in the field of agricultural productivity and sustainability’, with the remainder co-financed by the Regional Government of Extremadura at 11.28% and by the State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, at 3.72%. The amount of aid granted for the implementation of the innovative project is €299,877.14.