SBIR Phase I: Developing 'SAFE' (Smart-Activity-Focused-Eco) Plant Terpenoid Derived Biopesticides

Award ID: 2528163

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the urgent need for effective agricultural pest control solutions that protect human health and environmental quality. Conventional pesticides leave persistent residues in soil, water, and food products, with nearly two-thirds of global agricultural lands currently impacted by agrochemicals exceeding safe levels. This project will develop natural pest control products derived from plant terpenoids that provide effective pest management while breaking down rapidly in the environment, leaving minimal residues. These innovations directly serve the national interest by supporting the transition toward sustainable agriculture, reducing chemical contamination of food and water supplies, and protecting ecosystem biodiversity. The technology will benefit organic farmers, greenhouse vegetable producers, and consumers seeking pesticide-free food options. By expanding the availability of effective natural pest control methods, this project supports food security, environmental protection, and public health objectives aligned with national priorities for sustainable agricultural innovation. This project addresses the high-risk technical challenge of identifying synergistic combinations of multiple terpenoid active ingredients while balancing isolate availability economics, pest efficacy, and human safety to create commercially viable products. The innovation lies in developing precise multi-component formulations where terpenoids are combined in specific ratios with natural emulsifiers and surfactants. These formulations will achieve controlled delivery and enhanced mortality against difficult-to-control pests such as spider mites, while maintaining rapid environmental degradation and minimal off-target toxicity. Testing combinatorial synergy presents significant complexity due to the vast array of possible terpenoid combinations and concentration ratios that must be systematically evaluated against multiple pest species. The research scope includes expanded phytotoxicity research across diverse crops, mortality assays against additional insect pests and fungal pathogens, antibacterial activity assessment, and residue tracking in whole plant tissues across full crop cycles. This project will employ greenhouse bioassays, analytical chemistry methods for residue quantification, formulation stability testing, and particle size optimization techniques. The intellectual contribution will establish foundational knowledge for developing future terpenoid combinations with targeted pest control capabilities and enhanced safety profiles that reduce occupational exposure for producers and residue intake for consumers. The internal data generated will directly inform the development of new formulations and commercial products that can be simultaneously safe, effective, and economical for both producers and consumers while competing with conventional synthetic pesticides. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ela Mirowski