launcht Blockchain pioneer Charles Hoskinson’s latest project involves putting the birthplace of coffee on the blockchain. Hoskinson, who co-founded Ethereum and is at the helm at smart-contract fueled decentralized blockchain startup Cardano, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Science and Technology for ag-tech development on the public ledger.
The arrangement tasks Cardano with exploring ways that the African nation can apply the startup’s blockchain technology to its agri-tech sector. According to the MOU, the participants will study ways that the blockchain could be used to track coffee along the supply chain or for land registry purposes to cut down on fraud, for instance. The partnership stands to have a long-term impact, as education is at the core of the arrangement. Hoskinson plans not only to share his ideas but also teach developers how to use Cardano’s blockchain technology on their own.
This year we will offer our first course in Africa, probably in Ethiopia, and expect the first cohort of Ethiopian developers to be contributing to Cardano code by the end of the year.
– John O’Connor, Director of African Operations.
Cardano’s vision for the developing world is much bigger than Ethiopia, but Ethiopia is where it all begins. Hoskinson at the London School of Economics earlier this year spoke about Cardano’s goals for the developing world more broadly. He spoke about the problems surrounding land registry where landowners are being kicked off their own property for a lack of adequate record keeping. Countries like Rwanda, Kenya and Ghana are currently making strides with land registry on the blockchain.
