Harness Pheromones for Sustainable Pest Control

“Without some method of treatment, about 12% of crops globally would be lost to plant parasitic nematodes,” says Karl Cameron Schiller, co-founder and chief operating officer of bio-tech startup Pheronym. To combat these pests, Schiller and his team are developing non-toxic pesticide solutions that pose fewer risks to the environment.

Pheronym, a UF Innovate | The Hub and UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech alum, has developed two biopesticides that use pheromones to control parasitic nematodes, improve soil health, and protect crops for better yield. Pheromones, which are the foundation of the company’s products, are signals released by an organism to the environment that affect the behavior of the same species.

You may be surprised that not all nematodes are bad. Pheronym’s technology makes good nematodes better biological controls and prevents bad nematodes from feeding on plant roots.

Learn more about Harness Pheromones for Sustainable Pest Control.