IPPE: dsm-firmenich's AI-powered Verax system brings predictive health management to poultry
Using artificial intelligence, the Verax platform helps poultry producers predict health challenges before they emerge, improving flock performance and welfare
16 April 2025
4 minute read
By: Luiz Magalhaes, president of dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition in Latin America, was recently interviewed by The Poultry Site’s Sarah Mikesell in Atlanta, Georgia, USA at the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE).
Can you give us an overview of the Latin American market?
Latin American markets in poultry are very dynamic and intensive. 2024 was a positive year for the industry. The industry was able to manage cost, quality and sustainability very efficiently and productively.
The customers and the markets here in this show are looking for alternatives to improve their efficiency, productivity, and the quality of the products, but also for sustainability.
What are some of the challenges, issues, or drivers in the industry for the Latin American market?
Latin America consists of different countries with different politics and economies. One of the challenges concerns the changes in economy, inflation and exchange rates. These changes can be very intensive and have a large impact.
The second challenge is that the industry needs to be competitive because part of the production is directed to export to other countries all over the world. To stand out, they need to offer quality but at a lower and more efficient price.
The third challenge, which is no less important, involves the sustainability piece. The industry is trying to get efficient but also in a sustainable way. This is important in the industry right now.
How is dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition helping to solve some of the challenges that are out there in the industry?
This show is an opportunity to show what we have to offer in the industry. In the case of sustainability, we have what we call our precision service.
Within our precision service, we have a tool that's called Sustell. Sustell is one of the most modern efficient ways of measuring the sustainability impact. Users can measure their sustainability metrics. The best practice involves making improvements that take action to reduce the carbon footprint or any other natural resource. This kind of tool helps our customers with sustainability.
In terms of efficiency and productivity, we have a lot of products that help the customer not just to improve animal health but increase efficiency and productivity. That means more profitability for our customers at the end of the day.
I would like to mention a tool that's being used for animal health. It's called Verax, which is a precision service that measures animal health. It utilizes artificial intellience to predict diseases health problems that will present in the future. We are investing a lot in digital technologies that could help the market and our customers to be more efficient and to be at the top of the global market.
The quantity of information that can be taken from Verax is amazing. The most valuable information from the artificial intelligence provides the producer with the opportunity to take actions to reduce the issues and improve animal health. To fully understand the data and take appropriate action, producers also need to use human intelligence. Our consultants can make the appropriate nutritional elements for each customer to meet the needs of their farm. It's very precise.
What's next for Latin America?
Latin America has a great responsibility in the world. First, to feed the world. We export a lot of poultry. For example, just in Brazil, 30% of the production export goes to other parts of the world. That is huge. Secondly, we have the responsibility to deal with and manage sustainability in the right way, because we need this for a better planet, a better world, and the future.
I believe with all the digital technology, innovation ingredients and all the tools that we are providing, we can supply our customers with solutions and be partners with them in business. We are not providing products; we are providing solutions for our customers.
Are the services that you offer based on the data? Do you think data will continue to play a bigger role in Latin America?
Today, all kinds of businesses need to use technology, data, and digital elements. There are no other options for that. You need to be ahead of the time. We need to improve the market to the next level and the only way to do that is not to repeat what we have done in the past. We need to change. We need to go to another level.
We are starting a digital era in this market, and I think that we can get a lot of information and data with the use of artificial intelligence. With increased use, you can get additional data, and you can take actions to address the issues of the industry.
We do not do anything just by ourselves. We interact with and listen to our customers. I'm immensely proud to receive all my customers here at this show and see how we develop this together. That is a good reason to wake up every morning, to start working early and finish late every day.
Would you like to comment on the Latin American presence at IPPE?
Some of our most relevant customers are here. This is an especially important show for Latin America. People wait for the moment to come and it's interesting because we see some of these customers on a regular basis but it's a unique way of seeing the people here. They feel like they are at home with us and that is a good feeling. I'm extremely glad to be here.
