UTech platform digitises crop tracking

The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), through its Sagicor-sponsored Innovation Lab, has unveiled RootIQ, a blockchain-enabled agricultural traceability platform designed to strengthen food security, improve export competitiveness, and boost consumer confidence in Jamaican produce.

The platform was showcased at the 72nd Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, held recently, as part of the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Pavilion, which won the Overall Parish Pavilion Championship for the second consecutive year.

RootIQ aims to solve a growing challenge in modern agriculture: proving the origin, safety and sustainability of food. The platform digitises the entire crop lifecycle, creating a secure digital record of every stage of production, from planting and irrigation to pesticide application, harvesting and certification.

By scanning a QR code, consumers, retailers, exporters and regulators can verify where produce was grown and how it was produced.

Unlike traditional record-keeping systems, RootIQ uses blockchain technology to create an immutable, tamper-proof record of key farming activities. Once data is entered and verified, it cannot be altered without detection, giving farmers, exporters and consumers greater confidence in the integrity of the agricultural supply chain.

ACCESSIBLE

The platform combines blockchain, cloud-based services, geolocation technology and advanced analytics, and is accessible through both mobile and web applications. Its mobile-first design allows farmers to record activities directly from the field, even in areas with limited connectivity, while regulators, administrators and exporters can access reporting and compliance tools through a web portal.

Developed to help Jamaican farmers meet increasingly stringent international traceability requirements, RootIQ reduces reliance on paper-based records and simplifies compliance with export regulations, including emerging European Union sustainability and traceability standards. By providing verifiable digital records, the platform aims to improve export readiness and create opportunities in premium international markets.

Beyond agriculture, RootIQ has broader implications for national development. It gives regulators and retailers greater visibility into production and supply chains, strengthens consumer protection and generates valuable data that can support policymaking, environmental management, disaster-resilience planning and investment decisions.

The platform could also contribute to improved public health. At the point of sale, consumers can access information on pesticide use, farming practices, harvest dates and sustainability certifications, enabling more informed purchasing decisions and encouraging higher production standards across the sector.

Ray-St Michael Williams, research fellow and director of the Sagicor Innovation Lab, said the project highlights the university’s ability to develop local solutions to national challenges.

“Rather than relying solely on imported technologies, the university is building intellectual property and digital platforms that can be deployed nationally, strengthened through local expertise, and adapted to the evolving needs of government, industry and citizens.”

RootIQ is being developed as a scalable solution capable of supporting thousands of farmers across Jamaica before expanding throughout the Caribbean.