Digitized Farm-To-School Online Food Bid Platform and Matchmaking Marketplace That Utilizes Blockchain Technology

PROJECT SUMMARYTitle:Title Of Project - Digitized Farm-To-School Online Food Bid Platform andMatchmaking Marketplace That Utilizes Blockchain TechnologyPD:Ana Jakimovska Institution:Wildkale.com IncProject Coordinator:Sarah Jane Ficken Institution:Ripe.io (Ripe Technologies)The research conducted during a SBIR Phase I grant identified significant gaps in the Farm-to- School (F2S) system that could be solved with technological solutions. This Phase II partnershipwill leverage Wildkale's marketplace technology ripe.io's blockchain technology and CADE'scommunity engagement to create a smart F2S marketplace called WDKL that addresses currentchallenges in bidding matchmaking record keeping traceability and distribution logistics.With the input of key stakeholders the project team will develop an online food bid publishingplatform WDKL to immediately increase transparency in the F2S system. In the first year of theproject the WDKL platform will also facilitate a marketplace that improves matchmaking betweenfarmers and schools. The platform will provide significant functionality to producers especiallysmall and medium-sized farms to identify bids respond to bids receive purchase orders issueinvoices and store important information. Food service directors can use WDKL to create bidforms publicize bids facilitate micro- and small-threshold purchases from small and medium-sizedfarmers based on distance from school and distribution capacity. Food service directors can alsomanage the records required for the NY30 audit and monitor their progress towards buying targetsfrom local producers. In the second year we will pilot blockchain traceability capabilities andcontinue to work with additional food service directors producers and other key stakeholders tobuild the functionality of the WDKL platform with the single goal of increasing the participation ofsmall and medium-sized farms in the institutional procurement system.