Pheromone Technology Expands Beyond Specialty Crops with New Formulations

The crop protection industry has accelerated the development of flowable, biodegradable, and controlled-release pheromone formulations that can be applied using tractors, sprayers, drones, irrigation systems, and seed treatments. This technology was previously concentrated in orchards, vineyards, and vegetable production but is now being targeted at row crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton.

The goal of this transition is to provide species-specific control, reduce broad insecticide applications, and address resistant pests while limiting exposure to pollinators and beneficial insects. Pheromones are chemical signals that organisms use to communicate, and in agriculture, they can attract insects to traps, monitor population changes, identify the optimal treatment window, or interfere with mating between males and females.

One of the main challenges in developing pheromone technology is reproducing the correct signal and releasing it consistently throughout the crop's critical protection period. This requires a technical challenge: each product must deliver the right amount of active material at the right time to be effective.