Insect pheromones offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to crop protection, providing an alternative to conventional chemical pesticides.
They work by disrupting the mating cycle of insects. Synthetic sex pheromones identical to those produced by female insects are released into fields or orchards. This creates a ‘cloud’ of pheromones that disorients male insects, preventing them from locating females for mating. By disrupting the mating cycle, pest populations are reduced without directly killing insects.
Pheromones are non-toxic and do not harm beneficial insects, pollinators, or other non-target species. They target only the pest species of concern. Meanwhile, no chemical residues are left on crops.
The method has successfully managed populations of several insect pests and has been effective in protecting crops such as pome fruits, stone fruits, citrus, grapes, and cole crops.
Cost constraints and regulatory hurdles
The high cost of pheromone production is currently a major barrier to widespread adoption, especially for lower-value crops, while the regulatory framework for pheromone-based products is still evolving. Some technical issues also need to be addressed, such as developing efficient methods for large-scale production and formulation of pheromones.
Despite these challenges, pheromone-based crop protection offers significant environmental and health benefits over conventional pesticides. Ongoing research and development aims to overcome these hurdles and expand the use of this sustainable pest management approach.
By way of illustration, PheroSyn, a UK-based company specialising in the development of insect pheromones for sustainable crop protection, recently secured investment from Tall Grass Ventures, a Canadian venture capital firm focused on early-stage agri-food tech startups.
This funding aims to accelerate PheroSyn’s mission to replace harmful chemical pesticides with more sustainable alternatives.
A spin-out from the renowned chemical ecology research group at Rothamsted Research in the UK, PheroSyn is committed to providing farmers and growers with effective and sustainable pest management solutions.
The company says its pheromone-based products offer a safer and more targeted approach to pest management, minimising the environmental impact of traditional pesticides.
“This investment is a significant step towards advancing the growth of our company, and will enable us to expand our product portfolio, accelerate research and development, and reach a wider market with our innovative solutions,” said Dr. Mary Ellis, Co-founder and CEO of PheroSyn.
“Ultimately, farmers and growers across the world are facing renewed pressures with fewer products in their toolbox, and this support will allow us to scale and expand our solutions to help protect crops while also preserving the earth’s biodiversity.”
A targeted and effective way to manage pests
PheroSyn’s proprietary pheromone production methods allow for the creation of cost-effective and environmentally friendly pest management products. By harnessing the power of natural insect communication systems, the company’s novel products offer a targeted and effective way to manage pests, while preserving biodiversity and minimising the risk of resistance development.
Chris Edwards, managing partner at Tall Grass Ventures, added: “Insect pheromones are not easy to synthesize accurately, and so PheroSyn’s unique technological approach coupled with a market waiting for a solution, really made us stop and take notice.”
The Tall Grass Ventures investment follows earlier financial backing from Rockstart AgriFood, an early-stage accelerator and venture capital fund based in the Netherlands. Mark Durno, managing partner for Rockstart AgriFood, said: “Our world needs natural solutions to control pests in order to maintain crop yields without the need for toxic pesticides.”
