benefiting everyone from small farmers in Africa

to buyers of diamond rings.

For smallholders in developing countries

the inability to hold a record of transactions often

makes it impossible to get good access to credit, exposing them

to predatory lenders.

But blockchain technology might improve this situation.

In Zambia, software company BenQ has joined drinks company AB

InBev to give cassava and barley farmers a record which

is accessible by mobile phone of all the sales to their company.

This enables them to build a history, which

in turn lets them secure loans and win contracts.

Digital technology can also allow corporate buyers

and consumers to discover more about the sustainability

and the ethics of their purchases.

If a ledger uses blockchain sensors and scanning

technologies to track and authenticate

the origin of seven types of valuable assets,

including diamonds, wine, and works of art.

The company uses a digital ledger

to see the assets at every stage in the supply chain.

And works with certification houses

to give assets, such as diamonds,

and each diamond is as unique as a snowflake,

a digital thumbprint or authentication.

Meanwhile, IBM's Food Trust initiative

uses the internet of things, artificial intelligence

and blockchain to capture and share information

along the supply chain.

This can reduce food waste and quickly identify the source

of any contamination.

And means recalls are much easier to manage.

And to tackle problems such as deforestation,

the sustainability consultancy South Pole taps

into a range of tools, including big data and satellite mapping.

The company can assist climate risk

and how the activities of companies, governments,

and others are affecting the world's forests.

The goal is then to reduce the carbon footprint

of their supply chains.

One digital technology at a time, the supply chain

is becoming ever more efficient and transparent.