Does blockchain introduce new tensions in supply chain networks? A view from the food supply chain industry

Traceability and Authenticity (TA) are crucial concerns for supply chain networks, as illegal and unauthorised practices spread due to a lack of TA. Innovative technology blockchain has been argued to improve TA and address different issues in the food supply chain. While existing literature has mostly taken a techno-optimistic view of blockchain's potential to solve current supply chain issues, tensions that blockchain can introduce in supply chain activities remain neglected. Therefore, this study empirically investigated blockchain implementation to uncover the new tensions in supply chain activities while solving existing tensions. Activity theory was adopted as a theoretical lens. In-depth qualitative interviews were undertaken with organisations deploying blockchain to enable TA in the network. The study proposes new theoretical insights on how tensions emerge and build on each other to achieve TA in the supply chain network. This will guide organisations to improve TA by adopting blockchain.