Pheromyn

Pheronym is an agricultural biotechnology firm established to provide non-toxic pest management solutions. The company was co-founded in 2017 by Dr. Fatma Kaplan, who serves as the CEO and CSO, and Mr. Karl Cameron Schiller, the COO. Dr. Kaplan possesses a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology and has a background in natural product chemistry. Her foundational research, which includes discovering the first sex pheromone in the nematode *C. elegans* and publishing in *Nature* in 2008, underpins the company's technology. Having grown up on a family farm and later working as a scientist for institutions like the USDA and NASA, her expertise bridges practical agriculture with advanced biological research. Mr. Schiller contributes entrepreneurial and economic expertise, with a background in economics and an M.Sc. in pharmaceutical economics.

The company's core business involves using nematode pheromones to influence the behavior of microscopic roundworms for agricultural applications. Pheronym targets farmers and growers who are seeking sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides. The business model involves both direct sales of its conditioning agent to distributors serving growers and business-to-business sales of its seed treatments to crop and seed companies. A key milestone was conducting the first agricultural biocontrol experiment in space aboard the International Space Station in 2020 to study nematode behavior in microgravity. Pheronym has secured multiple patents for its technology and has raised funding through grants from the National Science Foundation and seed rounds led by investors like Sacramento Angels.

Pheronym has developed a platform of products based on its pheromone technology. The flagship product, Nemastim™, is an additive that enhances the effectiveness of commercially available beneficial nematodes, which are natural predators of insect pests. By pre-treating these nematodes with Nemastim™, their hunting and dispersal behavior is stimulated, leading to a significantly higher kill rate of crop-destroying insects—reportedly up to 78% more effective. Another key product is Pherocoat™, a seed treatment designed to protect plants from parasitic nematodes. This product works by emitting pheromone signals that repel harmful nematodes, tricking them into believing a plant is already occupied and thus steering them away from the vulnerable roots. These products are water-soluble, allowing for easy application through existing farm irrigation systems or as a seed coating, and are safe for non-target organisms like bees.

Keywords: agricultural biotechnology, pest control, nematode pheromones, biocontrol, sustainable agriculture, crop protection, biopesticides, Fatma Kaplan, Karl Cameron Schiller, Nemastim, Pherocoat, seed treatment, beneficial nematodes, parasitic nematodes, ag-biotech, non-toxic pesticides, integrated pest management, soil health, biologicals, agricultural innovation