Several universities and ag groups are establishing a public-access system to connect small and mid-size farmers to buyers.
The Open Market Consortium will serve as a blockchain system allowing direct sales from farmers to food companies and institutional buyers. Blockchain is a network of peer-to-peer transactions like Bitcoin allowing farmers to market their products using e-commerce.
The consortium, led by AgLaunch, is receivinga total of $4 million from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, Mississippi State University, Tennessee State University, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and other groups.
