Pheronym Granted Patent for Plant-Parasitic Nematode Biocontrol Breakthrough
Pherocoat™ for Plant Parasitic Nematodes (PPNs): A Sustainable Solution to Combat $173 Billion in Annual Crop Losses
An alum of UF Innovate | Accelerate Pheronym®, an ag-biotech pest management company, has been granted its second US patent, this one focused on plant-parasitic nematode (PPN) biocontrol. The patent for Pherocoat™ will help address the pressing need for a natural, non-toxic approach to PPN control. According to The Fight against Plant-Parasitic Nematodes: Current Status of Bacterial and Fungal Biocontrol Agents, PPNs pose a major threat to food security and plant health, with estimated annual global economic losses of $173 billion. Up until now, chemical control with synthetic nematicides has been the most effective strategy to manage PPNs, but due to their environmental toxicity, and considerable legislative pressure to restrict them, they are progressively being phased out.
“There is a real, pressing need for sustainable alternatives to manage PPNs, and this new patent for Pherocoat validates our technology for use against these destructive pests,“ said Fatma Kaplan, CEO of Pheronym. “Now with our patents in place for both of our products, Nemastim™ and Pherocoat, we will move towards commercialization of these impactful methods to manage agricultural pests by controlling nematode behavior.”
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