Pheromones
Insects emit chemicals called pheromones to communicate with each other. The most famous of these are sex-pheromones, often emitted by virgin females to attract a mate.
Insects and Agriculture
Insects are important to agriculture; some work as pollinators while others are pests, feeding on crops or spreading disease.
Biomanufacturing
Biomanufacturing is the production of useful, complex molecules in biological systems from simple inputs such as sugar and water.
Some of the most aggressive pests of agriculture are insect larvae. These are frequently controlled by applying pesticides, which are progressively being restricted due to concerns about their non-specificity and negative impact on biodiversity.
SUSPHIRE aims to provide a sustainable, low-cost biomanufacturing platform for the commercial production of insect pheromones. The introduction of biotechnology approaches to pheromone production will expand the use of sex pheromones for sustainable pest control in agriculture, reducing its environmental impact.
The partners of SUSPHIRE are grateful for funding and support received from
The partners of SUSPHIRE are grateful for funding and support received from