TRUST-FOOD Learning Path - Advanced Digital Skills on Blockchain for Trusted Food Supply Chains
The TRUST-FOOD project aims to enhance the adoption of Blockchain Technology (BCT) in the agri-food sector by developing specialized training courses that reskill and upskill employees, particularly those in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) within the Food Supply Chain (FSC), as well as jobseekers. The project has been created to provide accessible, high-quality training courses on BCT that reflect the latest industry advancements and business needs. More specifically, the TRUST-FOOD project offers 20 short-duration training courses, available in 7 languages (English, Greek, Italian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Slovenian), covering various topics such as blockchain and smart contracts for food traceability, quality assurance and certification using modern e-learning approaches like quizzes and videos. The courses were designed to progress from introductory topics to more advanced concepts, ensuring a thorough understanding of blockchain technologies and their implications for the food supply chain.
The courses are available on the TRUST-FOOD Learning Ecosystem, an integrated learning environment that aims to facilitate the training process through both asynchronous and synchronous ways.
Learning Path: Introduction to blockchain applications in the food supply chain
The TRUST-FOOD Learning Ecosystem has been designed and developed to serve a wide range of learning needs and styles, as each course within the TRUSTFOOD Learning Ecosystem adheres to a standardized structure that facilitates ease of learning and consistency. Additionally, two comprehensive Handbooks (one for trainees and one for trainers) have been created in order to facilitate the learning process.
This learning path is designed for anyone new to blockchain who wants to understand the basics and see how it connects to real-world food systems. It includes a selection of courses from the full 20-course TrustFood program — including Course 1 to get you started and Course 20 to show where it all leads. You will begin with the core ideas behind blockchain and digital assets, then build some technical skills along the way. As you move forward, you will look at how blockchain can improve transparency and efficiency in the food supply chain. You will also learn about practical strategies for adoption, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, and get an introduction to tools built for the food sector. The final course in this path focuses on how blockchain supports areas such as quality assurance and certification, bringing together the key concepts and practical applications covered throughout the journey. Overall, it is a solid starting point for anyone curious about how blockchain can actually make a difference in food systems. More specifically, this learning path focus on the following
Introduction to Blockchain Technology and Digital Assets (TRUST-FOOD)
This course provides a solid foundation in blockchain technology and its unique features. You will learn the basics about blockchain architecture, how it ensures security through cryptography, and the different types of blockchains — public, private, and consortium. You will also explore digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and NFTs, and begin to understand blockchain’s practical applications in real-world scenarios.
Lesson 3 is a key point in the course where you will dive into the fundamentals of blockchain. You will explore what blockchain is, how it works (including the role of cryptography), and the different types of transactions it supports. The lesson also introduces real-world applications, outlines the benefits of using blockchain, and discusses some of the challenges and limitations that come with it. The final lesson shifts focus to a practical use case: the food supply chain. This shorter lesson introduces how blockchain can improve transparency and traceability, outlines its benefits for food safety and logistics, and presents early examples of its use in the industry.
The final lesson offers a first look at how blockchain applies to the food supply chain — the central theme of this learning path. It introduces key benefits such as improved transparency, traceability, and food safety, while highlighting early industry examples. This lesson sets the stage for deeper exploration in upcoming courses, where you will examine these applications in greater detail.
Basic Blockchain Skills (TRUST-FOOD)
This course builds on foundational concepts and introduces key technical components of blockchain technology. Across seven focused lessons, you will explore essential topics such as cryptographic hashing, the structure and connection of blocks, and how blockchain ensures data integrity and security.
In Lesson 2, you will gain a clear understanding of how cryptocurrency transactions work, including models like UTXO. Lesson 3 delves into block structure and how individual blocks are linked to form a secure and immutable chain. You will also learn to navigate block explorers, interpret transactions, and understand the relationship between seed phrases, private keys, and blockchain addresses.
By the end of this course, you will have a strong technical foundation to support more advanced applications in blockchain for the food supply chain — and a deeper understanding of how its core characteristics can provide value in real-world contexts.
Areas of Application for Blockchain Technology (TRUST-FOOD)
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to how blockchain technology can be applied across various segments of the agricultural and food sectors. You will explore its role in enhancing traceability, transparency, and operational efficiency in farming, food safety, seafood and fisheries, and quality assurance systems. Spanning seven focused lessons, the course combines foundational concepts with applied use cases.
You will examine how blockchain supports verification of fair trade and organic certifications, contributes to sustainable agriculture through tools such as carbon trading, and helps address persistent industry challenges such as fraud, inefficiency, and lack of interoperability.
In Lesson 2, a core component, you will gain a detailed overview of the food supply chain, including its stages, stakeholders, and systemic challenges, supported by examples of blockchain applications that improve trust and data visibility. By the end of the course, you will be equipped to evaluate blockchain’s practical impact and assess the benefits and challenges of its adoption in real-world agri-food systems.
Blockchain Adoption Strategies for SMEs in the Food Sector (TRUST-FOOD)
This four-lesson course is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food industry understand the opportunities and challenges of adopting blockchain technology. Participants will explore how blockchain can improve traceability, reduce fraud, and build consumer trust—while also addressing the technical and financial complexities of implementation. The course offers both strategic context and practical guidance, including how to assess organizational readiness, engage stakeholders, and select the right platform.
Lesson 3 is a core component, presenting a seven-step framework to help SMEs evaluate whether blockchain is a good fit and how to implement it effectively. It provides detailed guidance on assessment and step-by-step planning.
Lesson 4 builds on this by showcasing real-world case studies from companies such as Kezzler, Ripe.io, TagOne, Transparent Path, Wholechain, and Devery.io—offering concrete examples of blockchain success in the food sector. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to make informed, value-driven decisions about blockchain adoption.
Roadmap for the use of Blockchain Technologies in the Food Supply (TRUST-FOOD)
This intermediate-level course is the fifth in the TrustFood learning path and the final course developed under the TrustFood project. It is designed to help participants understand how blockchain technology can be strategically applied to modernize and strengthen the food supply chain. Participants will explore how blockchain addresses key industry challenges by improving transparency, ensuring traceability, and fostering trust across stakeholders. The course also examines implementation hurdles such as interoperability, regulatory compliance, and alignment with sustainability goals.
Lesson 5 is a key part of the course, providing real-world case studies that demonstrate blockchain’s practical impact across various sectors. Participants will analyze success stories from industries including finance, healthcare, and food, gaining insight into the challenges solved, solutions applied, and results achieved.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and perspective needed to evaluate blockchain’s role in food systems and to lead or support its adoption in their own organizations.
Blockchain Platforms for the Food-Supply Chain (TRUST-FOOD)
This course is designed to help you understand and compare leading blockchain platforms with a specific focus on their use in the food supply chain. Each lesson is dedicated to a different platform, where you will explore its architecture, capabilities, and relevance to real-world agri-food applications. You will examine platforms such as Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, IBM Food Trust, VeChain, Tezos, NEAR, Polkadot, and Solana, gaining insights into key features like smart contracts, permissioned networks, scalability, consensus mechanisms, and developer accessibility.
The course blends technical analysis with real-world case studies, giving you a balanced view of how these platforms work and how they have been used in practical food supply chain contexts. This practical approach will help you understand not just what each platform does, but what its unique strengths are in solving real challenges.
Lesson 10 concludes the course with a comprehensive side-by-side comparison of all platforms covered. You will also receive a practical comparison sheet to help assess which platform best fits your technical needs and strategic goals. By the end of the course, you will be equipped to make informed decisions when selecting a blockchain platform for food supply chain applications.
Blockchain Applications for Food Quality Assurance and Certification (TRUST-FOOD)
This is the final course in the TrustFood learning path. It is designed to equip you—particularly if you are an SME owner, manager, or employee in the food supply chain (FSC) —with the knowledge and practical skills to understand and apply blockchain technology for food quality assurance and certification.
You will begin with Lesson 1, a foundational module that introduces the complexity of the FSC, spanning from production to consumption. In this lesson, you will explore the roles of producers, processors, distributors, retailers, regulators, and consumers, and become familiar with the concepts of food quality assurance and certification in this context. Lesson 2 guides you through how blockchain can be used step by step to enhance food quality assurance and support certification processes. You will identify key FSC stakeholders and learn how blockchain improves transparency, traceability, and trust. The following lessons provide sector-specific insights. Lesson 3 focuses on the application of blockchain in the milk industry, while Lesson 4 addresses its use in honey production. Lesson 5 explores use cases in the wine sector, and Lesson 6 examines blockchain adoption in the olive oil industry.
These case-based lessons highlight how blockchain can meet certification and quality assurance needs across different food categories. By the end of this course, you will have a practical understanding of how blockchain can be leveraged to meet quality and certification standards in various parts of the FSC—and how to assess its value for your own operations.