Companies around the globe are leveraging innovative technologies and artificial intelligence to make more informed decisions and better run their businesses. This week, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a national cooperative owned by dairy farm families across the U.S., announced an investment in SomaDetect, a dairy technology startup that will help farmers utilize artificial intelligence to more closely monitor the health of their herd and improve milk quality.
“This is a potentially game-changing technology for our farmers and the industry as it allows dairy farmers to know the health of each cow and quality of milk in real time,” says David Darr, president, farm services at DFA. “With access to better data, our farmers can make more knowledgeable decisions, which is a huge value.”
With SomaDetect’s technology, farmers can easily evaluate components of interest in raw milk, including fat, protein, somatic cells, progesterone and trace antibiotics. While the technology continues to be refined for commercialization, the platform provides cost-effective, instant analysis, which enables farmers to make rapid and proactive decisions related to the overall health and management of their cows.
SomaDetect recently completed the 2018 Sprint Accelerator program, which is also sponsored by DFA. The Accelerator is a 90-day, immersive program that helps accelerate and grow startup businesses.
“DFA and their members have been a great mentor and partner for us, and we’re excited to continue working with them to help bring the SomaDetect platform to dairy farmers across the country,” says Bethany Deshpande, Founder and CEO at SomaDetect. “Dairy farmers have been our greatest teachers and allies throughout the development of our company and technology, and our goal is to show them the same care they show their herd.”
About Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Farmers of America is a national, farmer-owned dairy cooperative focusing on quality, innovation and the future of family dairies. While supporting and serving more than 14,500 family farmers, DFA works with some of the world’s largest food companies to develop ingredients that satisfy their customers’ cravings while staying committed to social responsibility and ethical farming. For more information, please visit dfamilk.com.
About SomaDetect
SomaDetect is the world’s premier machine learning and artificial intelligence company in dairy. SomaDetect provides real-time, automated analysis of milk quality without any addition of chemicals or consumables. The company measures every compound of interest in raw milk, enabling farmers to identify issues early, manage reproduction, reduce unnecessary antibiotic usage, and ensure that only the highest-quality milk makes it into bulk milk supplies. Founded in 2016, SomaDetect provides dairy farmers with information about herd health and milk quality, where and when they need it most. For more information please visit somadetect.com
