Software targets prevention of foodborne outbreaks

Jeyamkondan Subbiah, associate professor of Biological Systems Engineering and Food Science & Technology

Software has been created to track and analyze environmental and product testing data to help food processing plants track microbial contaminants and prevent outbreaks.

Presage Analytics uses software that will archive the food safety data collected and its location in the processing plant.

By monitoring trends and data over time, the creators believes plants will be better equipped to isolate and contain future outbreaks.

Track microbial data

Harshavardhan Thippareddi, a professor in the Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of Nebraska, and Jeyamkondan Subbiah, associate professor of Biological Systems Engineering and Food Science & Technology, realized that the tracking of microbial data over time was the missing link in food safety programs.

NUtech Ventures matched the professors and their software prototype with iSoft Data Systems, a local company with expertise in inventory management and production management software and custom website design

NUTech is a nonprofit affiliate of the University of Nebraska that works to develop partnerships between UNL researchers and industry professionals.

They have already worked with a poultry processing company as its beta customers.

Connect the dots

"The software provides the food industry a means to connect the dots in case of a food safety issue through trend analysis to manage and prevent future food safety issues such as recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks, which can be devastating for the industry,” said Subbiah.

“We understand food safety issues and have the market domain knowledge, while ISoft has the capability to develop commercial-grade software and can provide prompt services to food industry customers.”

Matthew Wegener will serve as president of the startup company, Presage Analytics. Thippareddi and Subbiah will serve as advisors as well as board directors.

Wegener, president and CEO of ISoft, said: “We see huge potential to get this product into the market quickly and to truly improve food safety internationally.

“By using the software framework already developed by ISoft and using Thippareddi and Subbiah’s expertise, we have the best of both worlds.”