[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution.

Context.

Due to globalisation, supply chains have evolved from traditional linear supply chains to static supply networks and have further evolved into complex interconnected supply networks.

In addition to the structural complexities of contemporary supply chains, recent trends increasingly put pressure on companies to increase their supply chain visibility and to provide supply chain transparency to maintain their competitiveness.

We can think in supply chain transparency as the extent to which supply chain actors disclose information to all stakeholders, including the public, consumers, and investors. Thus, supply chain visibility enables companies to provide supply chain transparency.

For companies, traceability represents the essential prerequisite for enabling supply chain visibility, which in turn represents the prerequisite for providing supply chain transparency. We can think about traceability “as the ability to access any or all information relating to that which is under consideration, throughout its entire life cycle, by means of recorded identifications”.

Traceability system.

Interconnected traceability systems map objects through their object-related supply chain events, also referred to as object-related “visibility events”

At the heart of any traceability system is the identification of traceable objects . The GS1 Global Traceability Standard distinguishes between physical and abstract objects also know as digital objects.

• Physical objects: Which are handled in physical handling steps of an overall business process involving one or more organisations. This includes objects such as products, items, and physical documents.

• Abstract objects. Refers to digital objects which participate in business processes involving one or more organisations. This includes objects such as digital trade items, digital documents, and electronic certificates.

Traceability systems must map objects in their information world to enable object traceability , the identification number refers to an object and links to the metadata. The metadata contains all the relevant information to describe an object. On a system level, metadata includes data components, which “may be simple real numbers, text strings, vectors of real numbers and other values. Furthermore, traceability systems typically connect objects’ virtual representations via radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or quick response (QR) codes to their physical counterparts.

The traceability of objects requires mapping data related to the occurred supply chain events, also referred to as object-related ‘visibility events’. An object-related supply chain event “is the record of the completion of a specific business process step acting upon one or more objects.

This are the required core supply chain events: Object creation and deletion, object aggregation and disaggregation, object transformation, and object transaction events:

• Object event: Iniitially link objects to their identifiers (IDs) on a system level . In addition, object events allow the possibility to create a number of objects of the same object class. In addition allow delete objects, which results in these objects not existing on a system level for further events after their deletion.

• Aggregation/disaggregation event: Create a new identifiable ‘containing’ entity that contains a set of objects. Until their possible disaggregation, aggregated objects, physically and on a system level, occupy the same location at the same time. Consequently, aggregation events include the possibility of disaggregating previously aggregated objects, whereas the ‘containing’ objects become independent objects again, and the ‘containing’ entity dissolves.

• Transformation event: Transformation events fully or partially consume objects as inputs and produce outputs of new object classes. Like this, objects can ‘transform’ into new objects without experiencing changes regarding their modular composition.

• Transaction event: Transaction events associate or disassociate objects with business transactions. Therefore, transaction events enable the mapping of objects’ changes in ownership.

Detailed Solution.

This proposal aims to solve the identified problem by developing a blockchain-based traceability architecture prototype, this comes the following primary research question:

• How can a blockchain-based traceability architecture be constructed which meets the general-purpose requirements of dynamic, interconnected supply networks and ensures the end-to-end traceability of object-related supply chain events?

In addition, the following secondary research questions support answering the question above and prove the architecture.

• What are the limitations of existing blockchain-based traceability solutions described in the literature?

• What are the architectural requirements for an end-to-end traceability solution for dynamic, interconnected supply networks?

• How can the architecture’s components be implemented on Cardano blockchain to enable its practical applicability in a blockchain-based traceability solution?

Therefore, the proposal consists of 4 stages:

1) Research: Provides a theoretical knowledge foundation regarding related works in the supply chain, this stage emphasises the research gap to ensure the proposal´s uniqueness by pointing out the limitations of existing blockchain-based traceability architectures.

2) Architecture Development: An architecture describes “the set of structures needed to reason about the system, which comprise software elements, relations among them, and properties of both. This does not include its implementation in code; its design and logic can lead to code that is correct with respect to the specified architecture.

For the development processes, this proposal adopts the architecture development framework from “**Software Architecture: A Comprehensive Framework and Guide for Practitioners”** book

As is common in software development, architecture development begins with deriving architectural requirements. Requirements “provide the key input to the software architecture design. This proposal derives the architectural requirements from the fundamental supply chain structures, the characteristics of traceability systems, and the available object-related traceability standards.

3) The developed prototype based on the architecture : This proposal aims to develop a ‘basic prototyping’ representing a fully operational software. Therefore, this proposal evaluates the applicability of all architecture components in Cardano and applies a prototypical implementation in an experimental setting to ensure their implementation ability.

4) Testing: In order to evaluate the architecture components, the evaluation must use an example of a supply chain. I did a little consultation on lidonation , I can see that 65 proposals have been approved in catalyst related to agriculture and food. i will contact them and spread the word in the community for projects that want to participate and test the prototype.

Following, the outcomes derived from the proposal, I will highlighting their distinct contributions by addressing the aforementioned research questions and presenting key findings. To conclude, the existing limitations of the architecture will be summarised, and recommendations for future actions will be proposed.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community.

In what way will the success of the project bring value to the Cardano Community?

• Enhanced Traceability in Supply Chains: The proposal aims to improve traceability in dynamic and interconnected supply networks by leveraging Cardano blockchain technology. This enhancement can benefit Cardano community involved in supply chain processes by providing a more transparent and reliable system.

• Increased Adoption: Successful implementation of a traceability solution on the Cardano blockchain could attract attention and adoption from industries and businesses looking for secure and efficient supply chain solutions.

• Validation of Cardano’s Practical Applicability: The project’s focus on implementing the architecture on the Cardano blockchain as a real-world application, validating the practicality and suitability of Cardano for diverse use cases.

How I will measure this impact?

Prototype Performance:

• Measure the response time and efficiency of the traceability prototype in handling transactions.
• Identify and address any performance bottlenecks or issues reported during the testing phase.

Bug Reports and Resolutions:

• Track the number of reported bugs or issues during the testing period.

User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX):

• Collect feedback on the UI/UX design of the traceability platform.
• Evaluate user satisfaction with the interface and make iterative improvements based on user input.

Interoperability Testing:

• Assess how well the traceability prototype could be integrates with existing supply chain systems.

Security and Privacy Assurance:

• Monitor any reported security concerns or vulnerabilities during testing.
• Highlight the steps taken to address and enhance the security and privacy aspects of the traceability solution.

How I will share the outputs and opportunities that result from your project?

Community Engagement: Regularly communicate progress and updates through cardano community meetups as te global townhall & breakout rooms afetr townhalls, and social media (my twitter account: @Criro0787) to keep the community informed about the project’s developments.

Documentation and Reports: Share detailed documentation, reports, and findings through a final whitepaper, articles, or technical documentation posted in cardano forum, cardano spot.

Collaboration Opportunities: Actively seek collaboration opportunities with other projects and initiatives within the Cardano ecosystem, fostering a collaborative environment that can lead to further innovations and applications.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

I’m going to talk a little bit about who I am, I’m originally from Mexico, I’m in Cardano for a little more than two years, I got funding in project catalyst fund7 with the proposal called “Support small farmers in Latam”.

I was able to successfully delivered and completet the proposal, also in project catalysat I have participated as a reviewer in fund 8, 9 and in the last fund as a level 1 reviewer with a total of 80 proposals reviewed last fund.

As a member of the Latam Cardano Community, I have participated in educational content with Universities in Mexico.

• I´m leading in Mexico the proposal funded in fund10 “Universities Onboarding to Cardano” from Latam Community.

• I participated in the Cardano summit in mexico 2022.

• Representing Cardano Latam Community in “Cardano Days“ , Guadalajara , Mexico.

I participated in organizing two CIP-1694 workshops in Mexico, in the Pan-latam workshop in Uruguay and participating in the final workshop in Edinburgh.

• Co-authored the Latina American regional conclusions document
• (https://github.com/latamcardano/CIP1694Workshops.)

Regarding prototype development, for the fund 7 proposal I submitted, I had to make a prototype capable of mining tokens, transferring them and creating Cardano wallets.

[Project Milestones] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1 : Research.

Provides a theoretical knowledge foundation regarding related works in the supply chain, this stage emphasises the research gap to ensure the proposal´s uniqueness by pointing out the limitations of existing blockchain-based traceability architectures.

Main activities:

• Do a research of potential applications that are using blockchain technology for food supply chain management.

• Based on these potential solutions I was able to identify, do a research for their ability to map supply chains of high complexity with objects experiencing compositional changes.

• Identify what are the limitations of this solutions when being applied in dynamic, interconnected supply chains involving complex objects.

Acceptance criteria:

• Description of the identified solutions that are using blockchian technology also involving Cardano solutions.

• Detailed description of how they use the technology, what standards they use and how they approach supply chain mapping with complex objects that undergo transformations (e.g. unroasted coffee bean becomes roasted).

• A detailed list of the limitations of each of the identified solutions.

Outputs:

• A research article including references published on the cardano forum and accessible via a google drive document

Timeline: March 2024- April 2024

Budget: 4,000 ADA

Milestone 2 :Architecture Development.

An architecture describes “the set of structures needed to reason about the system, which comprise software elements, relations among them, and properties of both. This does not include its implementation in code; its design and logic can lead to code that is correct with respect to the specified architecture.

Main activities:

• Derive the architectural requirements from fundamental supply chain structures, characteristics of traceability systems and available object-related traceability standards.

• Development of a Governance Concept. The governance concept develops functions defining the supply chain structure-related administrative capabilities of the dApp, the functions of the governance concept include possibilities to add and remove parties as well as to edit their structure-related administrative and object-related operative rights.

• Development of a Token Concept. Identifiable and traceable objects are at the heart of traceability systems. It, therefore, follows that a blockchain-based traceability system rests upon traceable asset tokens. Therefore, as an initial step, it requires the development of a token concept that provides a fundamental structure to allow the integration of all object-related supply chain events.

• Create a project website to disseminate information about the initiative and start receiving requests from projects interested in testing the prototype.

Acceptance criteria:

• Detailed description of all the fundamental requirements that this system will need.

• Detailed description of the system’s governance functions (adding parties, removing parties, editing rights)

• Description of how the token concept works in the system, fungible tokens, non-fungible tokens, which standard will be used to map object events in the traceability system. (integrating object events, aggregation/disaggregation events, transformation events, transaction events, a token history).

• Website with own domain and running, with a form to receive testing requests from community projects.

Outputs:

• A list of all the fundamental requirements that this system will need accessible via a google drive document.
• A written document describing the governance functions of the system accessible via google drive.
• A written document describing the token logic within the system, supported with diagrams, accessible via google drive.
• Project website.
• A whitepaper containing the documentation so far done, accessible via our website.

Timeline: April 2024- July 2024

Budget: 12,800 ADA

Milestone 3 : The developed prototype based in the architecture.

Develop a ‘basic prototyping’ representing a fully operational software. the prototype will be built according to the previously designed architecture and will also use an open source low code platform to develop web apps, this to minimize development costs and focus mainly on the design and proof of concept of the platform.

Main Activities:

• Traceability System Integration: Integrate the traceability system, including mapping object events to the cardano blockchain (testnet) and ensuring synchronization with supply chain structures.

• Token Concept Implementation: Develop and implement the token concept within the prototype, covering the creation and management of traceable asset tokens (cardano native tokens).Define the functionality for handling fungible and non-fungible tokens within the system.

• Governance Concept Implementation: Implement the governance functions defined in the governance concept, allowing the administrative management of parties, rights, and roles within the decentralized application (dApp).

• Project Website Enhancement: Enhance the project website to reflect the progress, with sections dedicated to the prototype’s features, token logic, and governance functions. Ensure the website provides clear information for potential testers and stakeholders.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Successful implementation of the prototype on the Cardano blockchain (testnet), demonstrating the core supply chain events and traceability features.

• Functional implementation of the token concept, supporting both fungible and non-fungible tokens, with a clear mapping to object events in the traceability system.

• Operational governance functions allowing the addition, removal, and editing of parties and their administrative and operative rights within the dApp.

• Project website updated to provide information on the prototype’s functionalities, token logic, and governance features. Inclusion of a form to receive testing requests from community projects.

Outputs:

• Operational Prototype on Cardano Blockchain: A functional and tested prototype running on the Cardano blockchain.

• Token Concept Documentation: Documentation describing the implementation of the token concept within the system, supported by diagrams.

• Governance Concept Documentation: Documentation detailing the implementation of governance functions within the dApp.

• Enhanced Project Website:An improved project website with updated content and a form to facilitate testing requests.

Timeline: July 2024- November 2024

Budget: 26,000 ADA

Milestone 4. Prototype Testing and Community Engagement

This milestone focuses on community engagement, successful prototype deployment in a representative testbed, and the structured collection and analysis of feedback from participating projects in the agriculture and food sector within the Cardano Catalyst community.

Main Activities.

• Identify and contact approved proposals and cardano projects related to agriculture and food.

• Promote awareness of the prototype testing opportunity and encourage participation from interested projects.

• Collaborate with participating projects to establish a test environment, ensurin that the selected supply chain scenarios align with the prototype’s objectives and cover a range of relevant use cases.

• Deploy the prototype in the selected test environment, allowing participants to interact with and test the traceability solution on the Cardano blockchain.

• Provide training sessions or materials to guide participating projects in using the prototype effectively.

• Establish a structured feedback collection mechanism to gather insights from participating projects.

• Monitor the performance of the prototype during the testing phase, tracking transaction processing, and overall system responsiveness.

Acceptance Criteria.

• Successful outreach and engagement with a significant number of projects from the agriculture and food sector in the Cardano community.

• Collaboration with participating projects to establish a diverse and representative test environment that aligns with the prototype’s goals.

• The prototype deployed in the test environment, allowing users to interact with and test the traceability solution.

• Successful provision of training sessions or materials to guide participating projects in using the prototype.

Outputs.

• A report summarizing the outreach efforts and engagement levels within the Cardano community.

• Documentation outlining the selected supply chain scenarios and the setup of the representative testbed environment.

• A report detailing the successful deployment of the prototype in the test environment.

• Training materials provided to participating projects for effective use of the prototype.

• Analysis of the collected feedback, including identified challenges and recommendations for improvement.

• A report summarizing the prototype’s performance metrics during the testing phase.

Timeline: November 2024- February 2025

Budget: 15,500 ADA

Final Milestone.

This milestone focuses on the final evaluation, documentation, and communication of the prototype’s outcomes, ensuring clarity on contributions, addressing limitations, and providing valuable recommendations for future actions.

Main Activities.

• Evaluate the outcomes derived from the entire proposal, focusing on addressing the primary and secondary research questions.

• Provide comprehensive responses to the primary and secondary research questions posed in the proposal.

• Present key findings derived from the implementation, testing, and community engagement phases.

• Outline potential avenues for future research, development, or collaboration within the Cardano community.

Acceptance Criteria.

• A thorough evaluation of the proposal outcomes, highlighting contributions and achievements.

• Clear and detailed responses to the primary and secondary research questions, demonstrating the prototype’s significance.

• A well-structured presentation of key findings, emphasizing the prototype’s impact on supply chain transparency.

• Outlined suggestions for future actions and potential research directions.

Outputs.

A final written report and final close-report video including:

• A report providing a comprehensive evaluation of the outcomes, contributions, and achievements of the proposal.

• A document addressing the primary and secondary research questions with clear and detailed responses.

• Presentation materials summarizing and visually representing the key findings derived from the prototype development and testing.

• A well-structured document proposing recommendations for addressing limitations and suggesting future actions or research directions within the Cardano community.

Timeline: February 2025- March 2025

Budget: 8,000 ADA

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Cristian Rojas velez . Twitter : @CrisRo0787- Project Manager , researcher, in charge of documentation and reporting, architecture design and prototype development.

I am estimated to dedicate at least 20 hours per week on average to this project for a total of 12 months. I think that the delivery time is reasonable and the well defined milestones make it possible for me to deliver the project in a satisfactory way.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Research.

• Article Publication: 4,000 ADA

Architecture Development.

• Architecture design (240 hours): 12,800 ADA

Implementation of Prototype on Cardano

• Development labor (400 hours): 26,000 ADA

Prototype Testing and Community Engagement.

• Test Setup: 4,000 ADA
• Community Outreach: 8000 ADA
• User Training Materials: 3500 ADA

Final Evaluation and Documentation

• Documentation : 4500 ADA
• Presentation Materials: 3500 ADA

Third-Party Products or Services.

• Cloud hosting, Blockfrost : 3500 ADA

Additional Considerations.

• Publicity/Marketing/Community Engagement: 7000 ADA
• Reporting Back to the Community: 3000 ADA
• Reserve: (in case of unforeseen expenses or adjustments): 5000 ADA.

To calculate the ADA price to be taken for the budget and its monthly volatility, I used the following formulas:

ADA price = the average price over the last 365 days = 0.32 USD

Monthly volatility = The standard deviation of that same sample (0.3137) multiplied by the square root of 30 (5.477) = 0.17 = 17%.

Then the required ADA will be =(84800 ADA ) * 1.17 = 99,200 ADA

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

From my point of view it seems to me a reasonable budget, the major expense is the development part:

26,000 ADA , the time to develop the prototype I estimate it in 4 months , dedicating 25 hours a week, it would be a total of 400 hours , which gives an hourly wage of 20 usd approximately.

The other important expense is the design of the architecture for which 3 months are destined, in this case 20 hours a week for a total of 240 hours, which gives a salary per hour of 17 usd approximately.

The marketing and community engagement issue with 7000 and 8000 ADA respectively is also reasonable, and finally the calculation of volatility and contingency fund seem to me extremely important.