AI4CHEESE: AI-Guided Recipe Optimization in Traditional Cheese Production
AI for enhanced cream cheese recipe generation supporting improved efficiency and waste reduction
KEFIS is a small-to-medium-sized cheese manufacturing company based in Arta, Greece, known for its dedication to traditional methods and product quality. As sustainability becomes increasingly important in the agri-food sector, KEFIS sought to modernize its production processes without compromising its artisanal values.
Through its participation in an AI-driven optimization experiment, the company aimed to improve resource efficiency by using advanced software to generate data-informed cheese-making recipes. This solution focused on identifying the optimal combination of process parameters to minimize energy and water consumption—two critical factors in dairy production.
Traditional Dairy Production
AI-powered Recipe and Resource Optimization
- Effective integration of artificial intelligence into traditional cheese-making processes;
- Robust modeling of complex, nonlinear relationships between process parameters and outcomes such as quality, energy, and water consumption;
- Optimization algorithm’s ability to navigate trade-offs between competing objectives, such as minimizing resource usage while maintaining acceptable product quality;
- Uncertainty and variability handling in the input data, ensuring reliable recommendations under diverse production scenarios.
The experiments were conducted over a user defined decision time horizon and involved a series of controlled trials simulating real-world production scenarios.
The scope included testing the AI tool’s capability to recommend process parameters configuration that achieve acceptable quality metrics while optimizing energy and water use, as outlined by the project’s key performance indicators.
- Custom AI Tool for Recipe Optimization:
- A tailor-made AI solution was developed to recommend process configurations that reduce energy and water usage while maintaining quality.
- Improved Control Over Production Parameters:
- The system enabled data-based decisions on temperature, duration, and mixing variables, contributing to more efficient and consistent outcomes.
- Enhanced Sustainability Awareness and Capabilities:
- KEFIS gained new insights into the environmental impact of its production process and took measurable steps toward greener manufacturing.
Following the positive results, KEFIS plans to further integrate the AI tool into broader aspects of its cheese-making processes. The aim is to refine recipe accuracy, reduce water and energy usage across more product lines, and support long-term sustainability goals.
This approach is also expected to serve as a model for digital transformation in traditional food production.