Supply Chain/Blockchain Friday Wrap — Week ending 19 October 2018As blockchain technology provides more transparency with its innovative use cases, more people are no longer kept in the dark. The transparency it provides increasingly pierces its light in the technology space as each day passes by. Why continue to hold the doorknob of centralization, when you can move forward to a more decentralized world by letting go?Here’s our weekly roundup of supply chain blockchain news!Canadian Firm to Build Blockchain-Based Supply Chain Platform for Cannabis IndustryCanada-based blockchain and crypto company DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. (DMG) has announced the development of a global supply chain management platform for the legal cannabis industry. Previously, cannabis was available only for medicinal use within the country. However, the country’s government officially legalized recreational marijuana as of October 17.Click for source of photoDMG is currently negotiating with marijuana industry players, quality assurance labs, distributors, and regulators about launching its cannabis supply chain solution in compliance with industry specific requirements.Rwanda to Use Blockchain to Eradicate Conflict Resources from Supply ChainA rare metal called Tantalum, used to make consumer electronics, chemical process equipment, nuclear reactors, aircraft, and missile parts, is mostly found in Central Africa, including Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the natural resource is extracted in conflict zones and sold to perpetuate the fighting, it has become considered a conflict metal.Click for source of photoThe government of Rwanda is leading an innovative mineral traceability initiative using blockchain. The project is working with U.K.-based startup Circulor and its blockchain powered supply chain platform to record the provenance of metals in order to eradicate sources of funding for conflict minerals.Blockchain Refresh: Why KPMG’s New Strategy Focuses on CustomsKPMG is homing in on the point where cross-border manufacturing and supply chain meet finance, customs duty, taxation, and compliance.Click for source of photoUS Blockchain Lead Arun Ghosh said,”You hear that supply chains have been addressed by DLT — but have they? If you peel back the layers, these supply-chain implementations are simple track-and-trace. The value is missing.” Where this value resides, in KPMG’s view, is in customs and trade.Toyota Says it Gets a Boost When Applying Blockchain to Digital Ad BuysToyota is accelerating its plans to use blockchain technology to root out fraud when buying digital ads. Blockchain technology has been on Toyota’s mind for some time. Like many brands, Toyota also desired greater transparency when making digital ad buys.Photo from PixabayThe automaker recently piloted a campaign after inking a deal with blockchain analytics outfit Lucidity, with hopes of making sure its ad dollars weren’t going to waste. The end result was a 21 percent uptick in visits to Toyota’s website when compared to similar ad buys it made without Lucidity tech. Now the company plans to extend its deal with Lucidity beyond the originally planned three-week test.​NSW Land Registry to trial blockchain for conveyancingThe New South Wales government is looking to make property conveyancing electronic, turning to distributed ledger technology as a means of making the practice cheaper, more reliable, and more secure.The NSW Land Registry Services will be conducting a proof of concept with Stockholm-based ChromaWay, which is expected to be completed early next year, with the government mandating Land Registry transition completely to eConveyancing by July 1, 2019.Abu Dhabi Ports’ Maqta Gateway Working in Belgium on Blockchain PilotAbu Dhabi Ports’ subsidiary Maqta Gateway just announced they would be launching an international blockchain pilot in Belgium, with the Port of Antwerp.Click for source of photoThe Port of Antwerp and Maqta Gateway signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will allow the two companies to implement Maqta’s Silsal system on a limited basis. Under the pilot program, the two ports will use the Silsal platform to track goods that are traded between Belgium and Abu Dhabi. They believe that tracking cargo and establishing chain-of-custody will be easier with blockchain technology.Gold mining company invests in blockchain platformGold mining company IAMGOLD will join gold mining companies Yamana Gold, Sprott, and Valcambi in strategically investing in blockchain-powered FinTech firm Emergent Technology Holdings LP (EmTech) gold supply chain and digital token platform.Photo from PixabayIAMGOLD CEO and President Steve Letwin said, “Innovation is a key aspect of the industry’s modernized operating model, and as miners we must begin thinking more strategically to stay sustainable and profitable in the future.Sony Launches Blockchain Digital Content Rights Management SolutionSony Corporation, a Japanese multinational conglomerate, has announced the creation of its distributed ledger technology (DLT) based rights management system for digital content, to enhance the sharing, authentication, management, and processing of all rights-related digital content.Sony says its new blockchain solution will help users to manage rights-related information of written works. It records the actual date and time that electronic data was created and makes it immutable. The blockchain system will also handle rights management of other digital content like electronic textbooks, films, music, and more.Anglo-Gulf Trade Bank aims to bridge trade finance gap with blockchainAnglo-Gulf Trade Bank, a British/UAE start-up, is aiming to shake up trade finance in the region by using blockchain to speed up transactions, becoming the latest financial services firm to adopt the technology.Photo from PixabayThe bank, which opened in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi with initial capital of US$100 million, will facilitate trade by companies between the Middle East, Britain, and Asia, Chairman Jeremy Parrish told Reuters on Wednesday.Want to know more about Sweetbridge?Sweetbridge is an open-source project unlocking the value trapped in assets, payment delays, and corporate talent. Our Blockchain-based ‘tools for commerce’ help companies, countries and individuals to find a better way to trade and innovate.To join the movement go to https://sweetbridge.com/crowdsale and click “Register Now”.Join our discussion in Sweetbridge telegram channel to learn more about Sweetbridge and its products.Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Telegram | Reddit | InstagramSupply Chain/Blockchain Friday Wrap — Week ending 19 October 2018 was originally published in Sweetbridge on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.