WASHINGTON — Blockchain as the basis for an integrated food safety system will highlight a series of presentations at the upcoming American Bakers Association fall FTRAC Conference scheduled for Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta.

Howard Popoola, vice-president of corporate food technology and regulatory compliance at The Kroger Co., Cincinnati, will discuss how engaging with the blockchain ecosystem can propel the baking industry to the forefront of innovation in food safety.

“Blockchain can only be good for us, quite frankly,” Mr. Popoola said. “It saves us time. It will remove those redundant costs.”

Mr. Popoola has overall strategic responsibility and direction for food safety, quality assurance and product development for the entire Kroger company, which includes approximately 2,800 retail stores and Kroger’s 36 own manufacturing facilities. Prior to joining Kroger, he led product integrity and regulatory compliance functions as vice-president at Topco Associates, a private label procurement company in Elk Grove Village, Ill.

In addition to blockchain, other topics of note at the conference include allulose application in bakery products and baking with cannabis. Peggy Moore, a partner with Love’s Oven, Denver, is set to deliver a presentation titled “Harnessing the trends: C.B.D. and baking.”

Arthur P. Liang, M.D., senior adviser for food safety and associate director for partnerships at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is scheduled to speak about food safety trends