A decentralized blockchain and IPFS-based framework for secure traceability in agricultural waste-to-energy conversion

Emerging technologies, such as Cloud Computing, Edge Computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), play an essential role in enhancing the efficiency, automation, and intelligence of processes involved in converting agricultural waste into energy. Most existing strategies and technologies for managing agricultural waste-to-energy conversion suffer from inefficiencies due to their reliance on centralized systems, which inherently lack transparency, are vulnerable to data manipulation and single points of failure, and pose significant challenges for ensuring regulatory compliance and auditability. This article proposes a decentralized traceability framework leveraging blockchain and the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) to automate and secure stakeholder interactions across the waste-to-energy supply chain. The solution includes a blockchain-based bidding management system that addresses issues of bid manipulation and favoritism by ensuring all bids are transparently timestamped and recorded on-chain. Additionally, a smart contract-driven quality auditing mechanism ensures that only high-quality waste materials are accepted, with audit results stored immutably on the blockchain. The system ensures complete transparency, security, reliability, and traceability, contributing to a more sustainable waste-to-energy ecosystem. Evaluation results indicate that the proposed solution is cost-effective, secure, and scalable, with low gas consumption for smart contract operations, making it a reliable and sustainable alternative to centralized systems.