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PheroSyn FAQs

How Pheromones can Contribute to Global Agricultural and Nutritional Security

What exactly are pheromones and why do they matter in farming?

Pheromones are natural chemicals produced by insects that communicate with others of the same species. These chemicals are involved in many forms of insect communication including to signal mating, alert others to danger, or help locate food. At PheroSyn, we’re leveraging these naturally occurring compounds to provide a smarter, more targeted approach to insect management. Commercially,  pheromones can be used to attract insects to traps or to areas in need of pollination, disrupt the mating cycles of harmful pests preventing them from reproducing, or trigger false alarm signals causing insects to flee. This can all aid in reducing the need for broad-spectrum chemical pesticides, making pest control more sustainable, eco-friendly, and efficient—ultimately helping farmers grow healthier crops while minimising their environmental impact.

Regenerative agriculture focuses on restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and improving overall farm resilience. By reducing the need for harmful synthetic pesticides, which can degrade soil health and reduce beneficial insect populations, pheromones play a vital role in supporting regenerative practices. They are usually very species specific, leaving beneficial insects and soil organisms undisturbed. This promotes a healthier ecosystem overall, encourages soil regeneration, and allows for farming practices that are not just sustainable, but restorative.

As a spin-off from Rothamsted Research, PheroSyn has built on a vast knowledge base around insect communication and the use of volatile compounds to affect their behaviour. Unique chemistry assists the company in producing insect pheromones that cannot be produced using traditional commercial production systems, allowing the company to pursue a commitment to using nature’s own tools to address agricultural challenges. Unlike traditional chemical pesticides that can kill indiscriminately, pheromone-based products specifically target insects that pose either a threat or an aid to crops and yields. This precision ensures that beneficial insects, like pollinators and natural predators, are protected, which helps maintain biodiversity. 

PheroSyn’s pheromone technology is already transforming farming practices worldwide. Farmers across diverse regions are reporting fewer pest-related losses, healthier soils, and reduced dependence on harmful chemicals. By improving crop management our solutions contribute to higher crop yields while fostering a more sustainable and environmentally conscious farming system. As more farmers adopt these advanced insect control methods, they are not only improving their own productivity but also contributing to global sustainability goals, including reducing the ecological footprint of agriculture.

We’re constantly innovating to improve our pheromone products and expand their use in a variety of crops. Our dedicated research team, with over 100 years of combined experience, is always exploring new ways to refine our technology. We’re excited to be part of the broader shift toward precision farming where data will allow farmers to make even more precise decisions. As the global food production challenge intensifies, PheroSyn will continue to lead the charge in developing sustainable solutions that help farmers grow more food with less environmental impact. Our long-term goal is to ensure that pheromone technology becomes a key player in feeding the world sustainably as the population grows.

The benefits of using pheromone-based insect management include:

1. Species specific – targeting only the species of choice, leaving the natural world around untouched.

2. Non-toxic – no significant toxicity to humans, mammals, or non-target organisms.

3. Resistance management – Unlikely to lead to resistance, unlike traditional agrochemicals.

4. Residue-free – Leaves no harmful residues on crops, supporting organic and residue-sensitive markets.

Pheromone-based strategies are at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, offering precise, eco-friendly, and increasingly scalable solutions for insect management across a range of crops and environments. 

 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an eco-friendly approach that combines different pest control methods to reduce pest damage to crops. PheroSyn’s pheromone solutions are a perfect fit for IPM because they provide targeted, non-toxic pest control without harming beneficial species. Pheromone traps help monitor pest populations, and by disrupting communication between pests, they prevent infestations before they become a major problem. When used alongside other IPM techniques—such as biological controls and cultural practices—pheromones provide farmers with a powerful tool to reduce pest damage and chemical use while promoting long-term crop health.

Pheromone-based pest management solutions contribute to climate change mitigation in several ways. By reducing the need for chemical pesticides, which are energy-intensive to produce and can release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, our solutions help lower agriculture’s carbon footprint. Additionally, by promoting healthier soils and reducing chemical run-off, pheromones support carbon sequestration and biodiversity—both of which are crucial for mitigating climate change. PheroSyn’s R&D team strive to minimise the environmental impact of chemistry in agriculture. Our approach helps to ensure that farming remains productive and nature-friendly, as we seek to actively play a vital role in the broader fight against climate change.

With the global population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, food and nutritional security is a pressing issue. PheroSyn is keen to provide insect monitoring and control solutions as a key part of ensuring that farmers can produce enough food without compromising the planet’s health. By improving efficiency of treatments, and reducing crop losses, we seek to help increase food production in a sustainable way. Our field trials have demonstrated a reduction in the use of pesticides from 75-100% and protection from yield loss from 30% down to 3% (data from pea midge studies in the UK). Our technology has a global potential to not only boosts yields but also reduce the environmental impact of farming, supporting a sustainable, resilient food system that can meet the needs of future generations.