Pheronym awarded $378,000 NSF Phase IIB supplemental funding to accelerate commercialization and scale manufacturing

New Funding Supports Pilot-Scale Production of Nemastim™ and Field Validation of New Product Pherocall™ for Plant-Parasitic Nematode Control

WOODLAND, CA, UNITED STATES, April 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Pheronym, an ag-biotech pest control company, announced today it has been awarded $378,000 in National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR Phase IIB supplemental funding. This award provides additional R&D support to accelerate commercialization of Pheronym’s Phase II innovations following third-party investment commitments driven by the company’s NSF-funded breakthroughs.

The funding will enable Pheronym to scale manufacturing of its nematode pheromone platform to pilot levels and advance development of its new product, Pherocall™, designed to control plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) through improvements in soil microbiome health.

“This NSF Phase IIB funding is a critical milestone that allows us to move from successful lab and bench-scale validation to pilot-scale production and field deployment,” said Fatma Kaplan, CEO of Pheronym. “It positions us to bring sustainable, non-toxic nematode control solutions to growers faster, at a time when traditional chemical options are disappearing globally.”

Scaling Nemastim™ Manufacturing to Pilot Level
Pheronym previously developed a scalable manufacturing platform for nematode pheromones during its NSF Phase I program using shake flask fermentation, demonstrating proof of concept and product efficacy. Laboratory and greenhouse trials confirmed Nemastim™ improves beneficial nematode performance, with greenhouse results for foliar applications recently published by the USDA and the pecan weevil field trials in orchards for soil applications.

Under its Phase II award, the company successfully transitioned production from shake flasks to 2L and 5L benchtop bioreactors. With Phase IIB support, Pheronym will scale production further to 100L fermentation systems while optimizing raw material sourcing to reduce cost at scale. This pilot-scale manufacturing capability will support commercialization of both Nemastim™ and Pherocall™.

Advancing Pherocall™ for Plant-Parasitic Nematode Control
During Phase II R&D, Pheronym discovered that nematode pheromones enhance soil microbial biodiversity and increase populations of microbes that naturally suppress plant-parasitic nematodes. This breakthrough led to a U.S. and international patent application and the development of Pherocall™, a stand-alone product targeting PPN control.

With Phase IIB funding, Pheronym will conduct field trials evaluating pre- and post-application of Pherocall™ to control root-knot nematodes and reduce root galling in tomato crops under real-world conditions. The product can be applied via irrigation systems or as a seed treatment and utilizes the same active ingredient and manufacturing platform as Nemastim™.

Addressing a $173 Billion Global Problem
Plant-parasitic nematodes pose a major threat to food security and plant health, with estimated annual global economic losses of $173 billion. Historically, synthetic nematicides have been the primary control method, but increasing regulatory restrictions and environmental concerns are driving their phase-out.

“A question our customers frequently ask is whether we can control PPNs by applying pheromones in soil,” Dr. Kaplan added. “We are hearing from growers and agricultural suppliers across California, Europe, South Africa, and the UK who urgently need alternatives, especially as chemical solutions are banned and resistance to existing methods increases.”

About Pheronym
Award-winning Pheronym is an ag-biotech pest management company that enables sustainable farming through its novel platform of nematode pheromones. The company’s patented solutions use pheromones to control plant-parasitic nematodes in an eco-friendly way and enhance beneficial nematodes’ efficacy to eliminate insect pests. Pheronym is the first company to develop a scalable bio-manufacturing method for nematode pheromones and is advancing commercialization of its products, including Nemastim™ and Pherocall™, to deliver safe, effective, and sustainable crop protection solutions.

Learn more at http://www.pheronym.com

Karl Cameron Schiller
Pheronym, Inc.
+1 352-283-6967
schiller@pheronym.com
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