The use of data in agriculture and other sectors was previously viewed as merely a supporting function or by-product of market transactions. Agrifood input providers, farmers, commodity traders, and governments all used data limited to their own focus of operations.

Collaborative, distributive, scalable technologies like blockchains extend the role of data in creating new business models. Blockchains offer opportunities for sectoral transformation, including the shift to a platform-based economy. Blockchain technology has the potential to increase the productivity of farmers by streamlining supply chains and improving the transparency and traceability of agricultural products. These new models can be applied to the agrifood sector to increase farmers’ productivity and incomes. Contextual data on farmers/farms, activity, inputs, and production are needed for different ecosystem stakeholders, and the appropriate models can increase productivity throughout agricultural value chains.

Course Objectives

The main objectives of this course are:

• Learn about different business models using upstream and downstream blockchains in agriculture.
• Examine technological aspects of blockchains in improving productivity in the agriculture sector.
• Demonstrate blockchain applications in agrifood ecosystems.

Course Modules

This e-learning course will cover the following modules:
Module 1: “Blockchain Applications in Agriculture and their Productivity Implications” takes a detailed view of digitization in agriculture and how blockchains are enhancing productivity in the sector.
Module 2: “Blockchain Applications in Agricultural Inputs and Outputs” explains both input and output agriculture value chains, identifies challenges, and recommends various blockchain value proposition solutions with examples to overcome them. 
Module 3: “Blockchain Applications in Agricultural Financing” highlights the reasons for transforming global food systems and importance of agricultural financing. It shows how blockchain solutions can make agricultural financing more efficient and economical.
Module 4: “Blockchain Applications in Agricultural Risk Mitigation” describes risks associated with agriculture with emphasis on crop insurance. It examines how blockchains can make current offerings more efficient and new emerging models enabled by blockchains. 
Module 5: “Blockchain Applications for Farmers” takes an alternate view of blockchains as a revenue opportunity for farmers as well a productivity improvement tool. It explains various farmer-centric blockchain applications to help farmers monetize data.

Important Notes:

1. Participants who register to take this course and pass the final examination with a score of 70% or higher will be eligible to receive the APO certificate. Please note that the final examination can be taken only once. Therefore, the most appropriate time to take the examination should be chosen carefully. The self-assessment quizzes are for personal evaluation only and are not related to the final examination results.
2. Participants who perform well in this course and receive the APO certificate will be given preference, on a merit basis, for selection to attend follow-up face-to-face multicountry APO projects on similar topics, when nominated by their NPOs and if slots are available.
3. Notes 1 and 2 are applicable only to participants from APO member countries. Participants from nonmember countries are welcome to take the course for self-improvement, although they will not have an opportunity to attend the follow-up face-to-face multicountry APO projects.
4. Each module is in a prerecorded video format in which the expert delivers presentations by explaining each slide. Participants can access the video by clicking on the link provided under the title of each module.