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Pheronym is Among the Start-Ups in the World Agri-Tech Spotlight: Ones to Watch

Start-Ups in the World Agri-Tech Spotlight: Ones to Watch

The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit takes place twice per year in San Francisco and London, generating valuable opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange and deal-making among its international delegation of agribusinesses, technology providers, entrepreneurs and investors. Pheronym is among them. Keep reading

Pheronym at the 2019 world Agrictech Technology Showcase

Dr. Fatma Kaplan is presenting Pheronym's technology and AstroNematode project.

Top left-hand corner, Dr. Fatma Kaplan, CEO of Pheronym, is presenting Pheronym’s technology and AstroNematode project.

Pheronym is among the alumni of successful start-ups who have presented at World Agri-Tech.

To see 2020’s presenting start-ups on March 17-18, 2020, in San Francisco, follow the link.

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Composite Biopesticides

Technology innovations in the biopesticide market: Composite biopesticides are bee-friendly.

Nemastim + beneficial nematodes together make a composite biopesticide.

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Nematodes successfully launched into space for first ever agricultural bio-control experiment on ISS

Hard-working beneficial nematodes are finally on their way to the International Space Station

SpaceX CRS 19 Dragon capsule approaches to the ISS
MERRITT ISLAND, FL, UNITED STATES, December 8, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ — Pheronym, a bio-ag-tech pest control company, announced today that its first-ever agricultural bio-control experiment featuring beneficial nematodes is on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory after a successful launch today at the Kennedy Space Center. The nematodes were on a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket on December 5, 2019, launching the 21st Dragon spacecraft mission on its 19th commercial resupply delivery flight to the ISS. The science will focus on Pheronym’s breakthrough nematode bio-remediation technology and determine the impact that space travel has on the ability of beneficial nematodes to effectively manage pest control as well as other benefits for agriculture here on Earth. The nematodes reached the ISS on SpaceX Dragon capsule on Sunday, December 8 at 5:05 AM Eastern Time. “It’s a scientist’s dream come true.” — Dr. Fatma Kaplan, Project Director and CEO of Pheronym.  Keep reading.

 

 

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On the Hunt: Studying Insect-Killing Worms in Space

ISS BLOG 360: December 10, 2019 By Anne Wainscott-Sargent

Experiments Hope to Bolster Nematodes’ Killer Instincts to Protect Crops

At a Glance

  • An ISS National Lab investigation from biotechnology startup Pheronym, in collaboration with the USDA, will examine how microgravity affects beneficial nematodes—tiny worms with bacteria in their gut that kill crop-harming insects.
  • A recent study found nematodes exposed to Pheronym’s patented pheromone extract were 28 percent to 78 percent more effective in controlling pecan weevils and black soldier flies than nonexposed nematodes.
  • Improving the pheromone’s efficacy could give growers a better tool to protect crops while reducing broad-spectrum chemical insecticide use.
  • In addition to benefitting crops on Earth, these environmentally safe worms could aid future crops grown in space.

Last week, a type of microscopic worm that kills crop-eating insects rocketed to the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory for an agricultural biocontrol experiment in space.  Keep Reading

 

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A technical founder’s journey: an ag-biotech startup CEO with a vision

Being a scientist, I often have to convince people that I am the right CEO for Pheronym, an ag-biotech startup.

Frequently I hear, “You would make a great CSO.” I know I would be a great CSO, but I am the only one who can be Pheronym’s CEO.

Let’s start with “What does a startup CEO do?” Everyone knows that the CEO is the person in charge, but what does that mean for a small startup? Startup CEO’s can play very different roles depending on the type, stage, and founding team. For example, digital healthcare, digital agriculture, biotechnology, consumer-facing and B2B startups all have different needs. Furthermore, a startup is expected to create something visionary that will transform the industry or create some new and novel technology. So the startup needs a CEO with a vision.

It’s always been my belief I had the vision required. In 2005, when I accepted the position to identify the model nematode’s (Caenorhabditis elegans) sex pheromone, I knew how these discoveries could revolutionize agricultural pest control for nematodes. Keep reading

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A founder’s journey; an ag-biotech startup COO

The hardest thing I have to do is to describe my role as Pheronym’s COO, which is crucial to our product development.

What does a startup COO do? If you search Google for a COO’s role and job description, it says the COO is the second in command and runs the operations. Even though this is a very clear role for big companies, it is not so clear in a startup. Keep reading

Based on the quality, the Medium curators selected this article to be recommended to readers interested in Work and Startups.

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Pheronym Treated Nematodes Three Times More Effective in Attacking Agricultural Pests

Second Peer-Reviewed Study to Show Significant Efficacy in Company’s Patented Bio-remediation Technology

DAVIS, CA, UNITED STATES, Nov 12, 2019 — Pheronym, an ag-biotech pest control company, announced today the results of a second peer-reviewed study demonstrating the efficacy of their patented Nemastim™ pheromone extract for bio-remediation of agricultural pests.  In a joint study with the USDA and the University of Idaho, nematodes treated with pheromone extracts increased their effectiveness in invading host insects in soil by 300 percent.  Additionally, the nematodes improved their rate of attack within four hours of treatment.

The research, led by Dr. David Shapiro-Ilan with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory, focused on the citrus root weevil, which attacks 270 different plant species including citrus, sugarcane, vegetables, potatoes, strawberries, woody field-grown ornamentals, sweet potatoes, papaya, guava, mahogany and containerized ornamentals.  Previous research from the USDA and the University of Idaho focused on the pecan weevil, showing improvements of up to 78 percent in the effectiveness of nematodes attacking their prey. The nematodes treated with pheromone extracts were found to disperse more than non-treated nematodes. In this current study, the investigators discovered that the same pheromones that increased beneficial nematode dispersal also increased infection (invasion into the host insect pest). Keep Reading

Look for the article in the Journal of Nematology, coming soon!

It is featured at KLKN ABC Lincoln, Dominican Republic Post, South America Business News.