# Emerging Perspectives of Blockchains in Food Supply Chain Traceability Based on Patent Analysis
## 4 Discussion
### Application Areas  
It might be interesting to analyze the drivers that resulted in the development of paths, represented by LDA-identified topics, in development and patenting in the field of application of BCs in FSCs. The most frequently assigned IPC to the patents related to BC application in FSCs was G06Q, for all identified latent topics. However, the analysis of 335 patents related to BC technology in general awarded in the US, as of 2020 [58], revealed that the most frequents IPC codes were H04L (transmission of digital information, e.g., telegraphic communication) present in 84% of patents, followed by G06F (electric digital data processing) present in 53% of patents, while G06Q (data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory, or forecasting purposes) was assigned to 33% of analyzed patents. This observation points out the somewhat specific focus of patents related to BCs in FSCs. BC technology is characterized by quite wide possibilities for application in different fields. [PERSON] et al. [49] identified that, beside financial transactions in cryptocurrencies, integrity verification in insurance, data management in human resources, privacy and security in secure storage, reputation of education, governance of e-voting, integrity of IoT business, electronic health records, and, finally, business industry supply chain are also prospective fields for BC application. For BCs in FSCs as the subfield, the latest research by [PERSON] et al. [59] points out, based on findings from the academic literature, that applications have been developed in four main directions comprising, in addition to traceability, manufacturing, water management, and information security. In the present research, we confirm that the most developed field of BC application in FSCs is related to traceability enhancement. Considering that traceability represents a legal obligation in FSCs, it is quite understandable that the largest number of patent applications is registered in the domain of application of BC technology for tracing and tracking along FCSs [60]. Achieving internal traceability within a company involved in FSCs requires extensive engagement of human resources, as well as continuous record-keeping. Those processes can be significantly facilitated by applying contemporary digital technologies [61]. In terms of external traceability along the FSC, the issue of trust and confidence in records is circulating between companies in the FSC [62]. Thus, BC technology represents a logical solution, since it is designed to overcome such problems. It also reduces the level of human engagement while increasing the level of confidence, not only among FSC members, but also among consumers. Another important element that additionally simplifies the process of data collection within FSCs are devices and instruments that enable direct upload of measured or registered data into digital databases (EP3520350B1). The application of such equipment and its coupling with BCs, as a technology-enabling reliable collection and storage of original data, represents a prerequisite for further progress in this area. These circumstances have logically contributed to the development of technical solutions and their patenting in the field of development of devices and methods which support the application of BCs in FSCs. There are numerous platforms, IoT applications, patents using artificial intelligence, and sensor networks that have been developed to enable communication and facilitate specific operations and transactions in FSCs [53; 63]. These systems use or generate a significant quantity of important information. Confidence in and reliability of these data emerge as an issue, representing in many cases an obstacle for their acceptance and application on a large scale [63]. In this case also, BCs represent an ideal solution and, thus, a driving force for patentable innovation in this domain.