Blockchain, an emerging technology exhibiting swift growth, significantly bolsters transparency within a given supply chain, enabling secure traceability, backtracking, and info tracing. Blockchain technology holds substantial promise for the dairy sector, offering enhancements unnecessary market intermediaries, thereby broadening access to credit and insurance for farmers, particularly in developing economies Such advancements could lead to more sustainable, efficient, and resilient livestock practices. However, the technology faces challenges, including the need for sophisticated infrastructure, cross-platform software, and skilled personnel with advanced expertise. Divergence in technological capabilities between developed and developing nations may hinder trade and exacerbate disparities. Regulatory barriers could also restrict blockchain's application. Thus, it is imperative to enhance blockchain knowledge among trade authorities and policymakers to facilitate its broader adoption. The objective of this review is to discuss principles of blockchain and proposed future work pathways for its use in the dairy industry.

This study describes a method for species-specific detection of animal DNA from different species (cattle, sheep, goat, water buffalo) in milk and dairy products. A primer set was designed in conserved region on the basis of the alignment of the sequence codifying the genomic κ-casein gene in order to amplify all four species with a single primer pair. Polymorphisms were detected via minisequencing with extension primers designed in conserved sequences for haplotype determination that allow unambiguous assignment to each species. The method was successfully applied to the detection of raw and pasteurized milk from the four different species considered as well as to cheese products from the retail trade. Estimation of the limit of detection was carried out using a progression of dilutions of genomic DNA as well as DNA isolated from milk of a known number of somatic cells from different species in order to be able to achieve detection rates as low as 0·1% bovine milk mixed with buffalo milk.