- CattleProof has received USDA approval as the first blockchain-based Process Verified Program (PVP) for cattle verification
- The platform uses blockchain technology to record individual cattle information, improving traceability and transparency in the supply chain
- This innovation enhances the agriculture sector, allowing farmers to market verified “Born in the USA” cattle using digital certificates
CattleProof, a Wyoming-based company, has become the first to achieve USDA certification for its blockchain-based cattle verification service. This breakthrough allows ranchers to create digital records of each animal, which are stored immutably on a blockchain. The USDA’s approval under its Process Verified Program highlights the increasing role of blockchain in agriculture, aiming to improve the traceability and authenticity of livestock.
Driver’s License for Cows
The CattleProof platform provides ranchers with a unique method to document crucial details about their cattle, including age, breed, and origin, through electronic identification tags. This data is recorded on a decentralized digital ledger, making it accessible throughout the animal’s lifecycle—from ranch to table.
Rob Jennings, the company’s founder, likens it to a “driver’s license for cows,” emphasizing that this system ensures verifiable, transparent records for buyers and sellers alike:
‘It’s Like a Driver’s License for Cows’: Why One Wyoming Company is Creating NFTs for Cattle @robjennings https://t.co/MNqKFAfV0F
— CattleProof (@CattleProof) January 4, 2024
CattleProof Hopes for Better Luck Than Cecil
The USDA certification marks a significant shift for the agriculture sector, which has been exploring blockchain for enhanced compliance and fraud prevention. CattleProof’s use of digital certificates and blockchain records promises to create a more secure and efficient cattle marketplace.
Jennings also pointed out the potential for financial transactions to be simplified, as cattle NFTs could facilitate faster fund transfers during auctions.
CattleProof is not the first project to use blockchain to monitor cattle and livestock; MustangChain, which evolved into Cecil, was supposed to launch in 2022 but the platform shuttered before it could launch.
