The logistics and supply chain industry has benefited from embracing innovation and technology throughout its history. As the blockchain in supply chain continues to gain momentum, its market size is estimated to reach +400M USD by 2023 and very promising results such as counterfeit deterrence.Here is another round of supply chain on the blockchain news this past week!Beverage Cans with Unique Digital Identity, Thanks to Blockchain Technology.In a first for the beverage industry, Crown Bevcan Europe & Middle East, is launching its CrownConnect™ technology in conjunction with FACT. An all-natural sparkling drink, each can will be marked with a 2D unique scannable code. Making FACT beverage cans the first ever to be produced with a unique digital identity.Click for photo sourceCrown has also partnered with entrepreneur Olly Bolton, to launch Almond, a blockchain platform that allows consumers to scan a unique hidden product code and rewards them by unlocking tokens that are redeemable for cash. Almond-enabled cans of FACT Water have been available to buy in the U.K. and selected European countries since the end of June.Reference: packagingeurope.com/ref10Food Standard Agency trials first use of blockchainThe Food Standards Agency has successfully completed a pilot using blockchain technology in a cattle slaughterhouse. It’s the first time blockchain has been used as a regulatory tool to ensure compliance in the food sector.Sian Thomas, Head of Information Mangement said, “This is a really exciting development. We thought that blockchain technology might add real value to a part of the food industry, such as a slaughterhouse, whose work requires a lot of inspection and collation of results.”Reference: food.gov.uk/ref1 ; cointelegraph.com/ref2; fdfworld/com/ref5Merck turns to Blockchain to Tackle Counterfeit DrugsAccording to GlobalData, the first applications of blockchain in healthcare will emerge in the supply chain. Merck began to explore the applications of blockchain in 2016. When associate director of product management and applied technology at the pharmaceutical giant, Nishan Kulatilaka, speculated that after financial services “healthcare could potentially be the second-biggest industry to adopt blockchain technology.”Click for source of photoGlobalData believes that in the long term blockchain will revolutionize many aspects of healthcare on the patient level, the first applications will emerge in the supply chain, which is less resistant to change.Reference: verdict.co.uk/ref3; thepharmaletter.com/ref4; epmmagazine.ccom/ref9The Supply Side: Blockchain holds potential for retail applicationsMarshall Cohen, chief retail advisor at industry tracking firm The NPD Group said, “it’s not just about payment methods or sourcing transparency. Blockchain also has the potential to touch all areas of a company. It has the ability to impact retail including revolutionizing supply chain management, preventing against counterfeiting, simplifying payments and creating safer data security.”Reference: talkbusiness.net/ref9Wyoming’s pioneering crypto cowboys beef up the supply chainRanch owners are using blockchain to prove the quality of their cattle as the state passes laws to attract cryptocurrency start-ups. About 200 new companies have sprung up in Wyoming over the past few months, according to state records, with names like Bison Crypto Power and Something Something Blockchain.On a ranch in northern Wyoming, not far from the Belle Fourche river, a few hundred calves are making history. They are being tagged and castrated and branded with irons, as is normal, a couple of months after birth. But what is new is that their IDs are now logged on a blockchain: part of a push by America’s least populated and most minerals-dependent state to position itself at the front of the “crypto” revolution.Reference: ft.com/ref6XMBC Connects Supply Chain Finance and BlockchainThe XMBC project, dedicated to solving the financing difficulties for small and medium-sized enterprises is unveiled at the Russian summit. The XMBC project optimizes contract technology with the application of “China Carbon Chain TCC” and officially launches blockchain products that are based on smart contracts and integrated with Internet finance.XMBC’s application scenarios includes digital asset trading, smart contracts, Internet of Things, supply chain finance, and new retail payment systems. The goal of XMBC is to provide holders with a secure blockchain finance and supply chain venture capital platform.Reference: prnewswire.com/ref8;OpenPort, Canoe Mining, And Heavyweight Group Announce First Commercial Partnership To Bring Blockchain Logistics Solutions To AfricaOpenPort Ltd. announces its first commercial partnership built on a re-seller agreement with Heavyweight Group Special Projects(Pty) Ltd, an outsource specialist dedicated to providing customers with flexible and cost-effective logistics solutions mainly focused on bulk logistics for Southern Africa.The partnership’s goal is to provide an integrated system that can manage the logistics chain from top to bottom with traceability and verification in mind — a feat which can be accomplished with OpenPort’s proven blockchain-enabled transport management system (TMS) for enterprises. The partnership intends to focus on two major verticals, fast-moving consumer goods and mining. OpenPort’s Mining Operations Logistics Solution (MOLS) is built in partnership with Canoe Mining Ventures, and specifically tailored to serve the traditional mining industry using a blockchain protocol for recording the tracking and delivery of core samples and other raw or finished resources.Reference: logisticsonline.com/ref7Want 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”.Want to be one of the first to use the Sweetbridge Wallet?Join our alpha program to get access to a test version of the Sweetbridge Wallet and help us make it even better. Sign up at https://bit.ly/sweetbridgealphaTo learn more about the products and Sweetbridge, you can sign up through the member dashboard at www.sweetbridge.com.Join our discussion in Sweetbridge telegram channel.Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Telegram | Reddit | InstagramSupply Chain/ Blockchain Friday Wrap — Week ending 6 July 2018 was originally published in Sweetbridge on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.