'We have addressed limitations in existing feed formulation software' - Cargill
The Minnesota-based agri-giant announced last week that it was releasing a new formulation software package, iNDIGO, through its Format Solutions business. The goal of the software offering is to address market demands for new digital tools.
As business needs change, new formulation software was needed for business planning and to meet customer needs, said Ian Mealey, product line director with Format Solutions. “Users are expecting more from their solutions than just optimization of a feed recipe and transferring this to production,” he added.
“Formulation systems must be able to fully integrate with other business systems, and they have a role in regulatory compliance, traceability and food safety and assisting with fundamental decisions such as ingredient purchase,” he told FeedNavigator. “Formulation systems must improve all the time to assist their users with these requirements in the modern business environment.”
The program took several years to design and was established to plug gaps considered lacking in previously created feed formulation software, he said.
“In response to the feedback given by customers to Format Solutions, iNDIGO was created to address the limitations of existing formulation software, and to offer new innovations,” said Mealey. “In this way, Format has sought to work with partners to ensure that iNDIGO provides customers with an adaptable solution that meets needs in integration, improving cost-saving opportunities, managing formulation processes efficiently and securely and meeting rigorous quality procedures and regulations.”
The new program is now available to users globally, he said.
Program details
The new program does require a software installation, which involves adding in relevant data along with training new users, said Mealey. However, it was designed to be used for all types of production species and can be customized.
“Ingredient and product data must be added by the user,” he said. “It is possible to convert data from existing systems.”
It also can be used by producers with different sizes of production facilities, he said. “iNDIGO is applicable to producers of all types, and is offered in different editions and with different modules so users can select the program features to match their needs,” he added.
The software has the ability to manage nutrient data for multiple locations and different time periods, said Format Solutions. It also can highlight details including ingredient requirements, nutritional details and costs.
Producers can generate tailored reports for their operations and modeling of real-world scenarios has been improved to aid ingredient-purchasing decisions, the company said.
“The optimization result is a recipe of ingredients with required levels,” added Mealey. “The cost of the recipe is the lowest possible within the constraints defined (both on ingredients and on nutrient requirements).”
