A small team taking on a big pest problem.
Developing innovative approaches to address major insect pest challenges on the farm in a sustainable way is the focus for Agragene. Founded in 2017, we bring together molecular biologists, entomologists, operations leaders, and commercial-agriculture veterans to develop precision-guided pest control that works alongside the programs growers already run.
We are developing precision-guided sterilization and sex selection of insects for agricultural use — a platform with applications across many of the pests that damage crops and livestock worldwide. Our first commercial product, KNOCKOUT™ SWD, targets spotted wing drosophila in berries. Our research pipeline extends to livestock pests such as the New World screwworm and to additional pests threatening food production.
Top Row: Stephanie G., Ani A., Anne S., Noelle L., Bryan W. Middle Row: Matt H., Lupe G., Emilie F., Shelby W. Bottom Row: Lisa M., Maureen B., Esha S.
Top Row: Stephanie G., Ani A., Anne S., Noelle L., Bryan W. Middle Row: Matt H., Lupe G., Emilie F., Shelby W. Bottom Row: Lisa M., Maureen B., Esha S.
Top Row: Shelby W., Noelle L., Anne S., Ani A., Stephanie G., Bryan W. Bottom Row: Matt H., Esha S., Lupe G., Maureen B., Emilie F., Lisa H.
Top Row: Stephanie G., Ani A., Anne S., Noelle L., Bryan W. Middle Row: Matt H., Lupe G., Emilie F., Shelby W. Bottom Row: Lisa M., Maureen B., Esha S.
Our Team
Our team has come to our St. Louis office and labs from different parts of the country, each offering a passion for the work we are doing. The leadership team includes:
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Bryan Witherbee
Chief Executive Officer
Stacy Deeds
Director, Insectary Operations
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Matt Helms
Chief Commercial Officer
Ani Eswar
Director, Customer Operations
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Stephanie Gamez
Director, R&D
Board of Directors
Carl Casale
Chairman
Jim McCarter
Member
Ida Posner
Member
Lee Vetsch
Member
Mark Holekamp
Member
Melissa Grizzle
Member
Robert Schmidt
Member
Bryan Witherbee
CEO
Our investors share our vision for a healthier and brighter future
Work that Matters
The people who grow our food shouldn't have to choose between protecting their crops and protecting everything around them. Agragene's work is built on the belief in precision — the ability to target a specific pest without treating the entire field. And it can help growers keep more of what they raise, reduce reliance on the tools they've relied on for decades, and strengthen the food supply the rest of us depend on every day.
We're a small company with a specific job: prove that this approach works, help growers put it to use, and expand it to the pests that cause the most harm to food production. That's the charge we took on. It's still the one that guides us.
