Ensuring steady milk production
all year round with AI

Did you know that milk production fluctuates significantly throughout the year? While we, as consumers, buy milk at the same pace regardless of the season, dairies like Valio face major challenges. During the summer, milk flows abundantly, but when winter comes, production decreases drastically. This creates inefficiencies and high costs. But what happens when some of the sharpest minds are brought together to solve this problem? That’s exactly what Valio did when they organized ValioHackathon – a competition that led to a groundbreaking solution.

The winning solution, presented by us at Elvenite, utilized advanced data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) to map and understand the seasonal variations in milk production. By analyzing data from dairy farms with both high and low seasonal variation, we identified the factors driving these differences. These insights form the foundation for developing more informed strategies to manage production.

We collected and processed data directly from the farms and used AI and ML to analyze and understand the underlying causes of these seasonal variations. By comparing farms with different production patterns, we were able to identify which methods and conditions could potentially contribute to more consistent milk production. This allowed Valio to gain a better understanding of the issue and consider strategic actions that could lead to a more stable production over time.

A more stable production would enable Valio to improve planning and resource management, which in the long run could help reduce costs and lower environmental impact. This is especially important in working towards Valio’s long-term goal of achieving carbon-neutral milk production by 2035. By applying AI and ML, we transformed the collected data into valuable insights, contributing to a deeper understanding of the dynamics driving milk production.

Our work is a clear example of how technology and data can be used to solve complex problems in the food industry. By leveraging AI and ML, we fostered a deeper understanding of the dynamics behind milk production, providing Valio with the tools to act more proactively. The result helps create a more balanced and sustainable production that benefits both producers and consumers. Through the combination of in-depth data analysis and cutting-edge technology, we helped Valio take an important step towards a more sustainable future.