Help new Gainesville biocontrol start-up focus on industry needs

Microscopic view of one of the more than 25,000 nematodes that have been described by scientists. Photo by Bob Goldstein, UNC Chapel Hill.

Who is not interested in more cost-effective biocontrols for pests in their nursery? A new Gainesville, Florida biocontrol startup, Pheronym, works with beneficial nematodes that can be used in lieu of pesticides. The CEO is a microbiologist and chemist who specialized in plant metabolisms and has figured out how to extract pheromones from nematodes that tells the nematodes to kill a lot more efficiently in the field. This could make a fairly unreliable biocontrol more reliable. This small startup may begin manufacturing within the year and is eager to have input from Florida nursery growers. If you’re a commercial grower, please help by answering a few of Pheronym’s survey questions.