Month: July 2023

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Pheronym lands $1 million National Science Foundation SBIR Phase II grant

This second NSF Grant will fund the final steps to scaling the commercialization of the company’s patented nematode pheromone extract for crop biocontrol 

Woodland, California – July 11, 2023– Pheronym, an ag-biotech pest management company, has been awarded a second non-dilutive National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR for $1 Million.  The grant will fund the final steps to scaling commercial manufacturing of their sustainable, eco-, and climate-friendly approach to pest control. The target pests include Thrips, a globally important pest that developed resistance to chemical pesticides. Other target pests include orchard pests like thrips, pecan weevil, citrus weevil, peachtree borer, appletree borer, and turfgrass pests such as leatherjackets and white grubs.  To date, Pheronym has been awarded $1M in non-dilutive grants for their breakthrough work in enhancing crop biocontrol with Nematodes.   

Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $275,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1,000,000). Small businesses with Phase II funding are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, undergo a rigorous merit-based review process.

“After years of proving the efficacy of our patented approach, we are ready to take the final step in scaling production to make our solution commercially available,” said Dr. Fatma Kaplan, CEO of Pheronym. “Our natural approach to pest control will be better for people and our planet – it’s time to get it out in the field so it can make a real difference for farmers and consumers alike.” Keep reading.