Stimson Center intends to use DLT to track hazardous substances – Bits Media

Non-profit think tank Stimson has partnered with Canadian software developer OARO to create a system using DLT.

Stimson Center is developing a prototype of the MATCH system (Monitoring and Tracking Chemicals), in which it will be use distributed registry technology. The platform should allow tracking of international trade in substances, specified in the Chemical Weapons Convention (KHO). These substances can be used for peaceful industrial purposes, but can also be used to create chemical weapons. Therefore, the production of these chemicals and further actions with them must be declared and verified in accordance with the CWC, says Stimson Center management.

The key goals of the CWC are to prevent development, production, accumulation and use of chemical weapons. The Convention provides, that participating States report annually data on transboundary movements of hazardous substances. Stimson representatives say, that MATCH is funded by Global Affairs Canada as part of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Threat Reduction Program.

In the coming year, MATCH developers intend to study the possibilities of DLT and create conditions for its implementation. Besides, DLT will be tested as a new method for tracking international trade in chemicals, specified in the lists of the convention. MATCH Project Manager Cindy Westergaard (Cindy Vestergaard) sure, that the use of DLT will eliminate data discrepancies, will increase the efficiency of reporting on declarations, and will also allow industrial companies and government agencies to track the supply chain of chemicals.

Recently, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (WITH) found out, that DLT using a single computer has performance issues.