Or Yehuda, Israel | May 28, 2025—EcoPhage, a leader in the development and commercialization of sustainable phage-based biopesticides for bacterial plant diseases, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Bob Trogele, CEO of Verdelis Investments and a seasoned agribusiness and ag-tech leader, to its Board of Directors.
Dr. Trogele brings decades of global agribusiness leadership to the EcoPhage board, having held senior roles at major multinationals such as Hoechst, Aventis, Bayer, Schering, and FMC. His deep expertise spans the full agricultural value chain—including agrochemicals, biologicals, plant nutrition, seeds and genetics, application technologies, and precision agriculture—across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Most recently Dr. Trogele played a pivotal role in transforming American Vanguard (NYSE: AVD) from a “small cap” into an assembly of a biological and micronutrient portfolio platform, making targeted investments in organic growth and market access, creating an innovation pipeline of new products and investment in precision agriculture, and fostering global development capabilities.
“I am thrilled to join EcoPhage’s Board of Directors and collaborate with a team whose vision aligns so closely with my passion for advancing sustainable, technology-driven solutions in agriculture,” said Dr. Trogele. “At Verdelis Investments we believe innovation is key to solving the critical challenges facing food producers today, and I look forward to contributing insights from our work at the intersection of agribusiness, technology, and sustainability.”
Verdelis Investments, operated by ProAgInvest LLC and led by Dr. Trogele, focuses on identifying and scaling cutting-edge agricultural technologies. By forging global partnerships and investing strategically in precision farming, robotics, data analytics, green chemistry, and biologicals, Verdelis aims to curate a portfolio that drives both technological advancements and strong, risk-adjusted returns. Beyond capital, the firm actively collaborates with portfolio companies to refine business models and accelerate market access, positioning itself as a hands-on partner in their growth. With a conviction that sustainable solutions—from regenerative soil health practices to supply chain efficiencies—can reconcile rising global demand for nutritious food with environmental stewardship, Verdelis invests in innovations that empower producers to boost productivity, profitability, and resilience. “The challenges facing agriculture are immense, but so too is the opportunity,” added Dr. Trogele.
EcoPhage, founded by the Trendlines Group and Bayer, is at the forefront of developing next-generation bacteriophage-based solutions to combat bacterial plant diseases with minimal environmental impact.
Nitza Kardish PhD, Chair of EcoPhage and Trendlines Agrifood, added: “Following the successful demonstration of our technology in the field, the time has come to accelerate global commercialization. I warmly welcome Bob to our Board. His vast experience and strategic vision will be a tremendous asset as we take EcoPhage to the next stage.”
Remarked EcoPhage CEO Guy Elitzur: “With EcoPhage expecting its first EPA approval shortly and our first U.S. commercial launch on the horizon, Bob’s experience, network, and leadership will significantly enhance our strategic, commercial, and operational execution. We are delighted to have him on board.”
Media Contact, EcoPhage:
Email: info@ecophage.com
Media Contact, Verdelis Investments:
James C. Sulecki, Communications, Verdelis Investments | comm@verdelisinvestments.com
About Verdelis Investments
Verdelis Investments is a multi-faceted venture and growth equity management firm, and proud partner of ProAgInvest LLC. ProAgInvest LLC is an operating platform and holding company owned exclusively by Bob Trogele and Ralph Pastore, which specializes in investments and consultancy services across the agriculture value chain. For more information, please visit: VerdelisInvestments.com
About Trendlines
The Trendlines Group invests in innovation in agrifood and medtech, leveraging our experience, partnerships network, and resources to go from seed to market. Trendlines’ shares are traded on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX: 42T) and in the United States as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) on the OTCQX International (OTCQX: TRNLY).
About EcoPhage
Ecophage pioneers the development and commercialization of bacteriophages-based bactericides with minimal environmental impact and maximum efficacy, addressing a crucial issue in global agriculture. Our innovative products harness the power of bacteriophages—viruses uniquely targeting bacteria—to prevent and cure plants, offering nontoxic solutions for bacterial diseases.
Our mission is to transform the agricultural bactericide market by offering precise, natural, and sustainable solutions to combat bacterial plant diseases. Co-developed with the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science, EcoPhage’s proprietary technology platform enables safer and more effective crop protection, helping farmers increase yields and reduce losses while promoting ecological balance.