Loveland Products and Ascribe Team Up to Launch Biofungicides for U.S. Row Crops

Loveland Products, Inc., an affiliate of Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc., and Ascribe Bioscience have entered into a joint development agreement and supply agreement. Loveland Products will commercialize two new crop protection products containing Ascribe’s biofungicide, Phytalix. This collaboration is expected to bring Phytalix-based products to the U.S. row crop market under the Loveland Products’ brand in the 2026 growing season.

Phytalix is based on a natural, non-toxic molecule that primes plant defenses and delivers protection against a broad range of crop diseases. The joint development effort between Loveland Products and Ascribe will bring a new set of tools to help farmers prevent, and in some cases overcome the resistance of fungal pathogens to traditional chemistry. During the initial phases of the agreement, Loveland Products performed a multi-crop, multi-year efficacy evaluation of traditional chemistries and Phytalix combinations, demonstrating an increase in performance when Phytalix was present.

“Our highest priority at Loveland Products is to help farmers achieve their goals. Our team at Loveland works hard to build an innovative proprietary line of products that help growers tackle their challenges in a unique and effective way,” says Casey McDaniel, Vice President of Loveland Products. “We are excited to strengthen our portfolio by adding Phytalix into our line-up of product offerings. This novel compound will offer the grower an enhanced tool to fight fungal diseases and manage resistance issues.”

Ascribe CEO Jay Farmer adds, “We are delighted to partner with Nutrien to bring the performance and environmental benefits of Phytalix to millions of acres of corn, wheat, and soybeans in the U.S.”

Pending EPA registration, the companies anticipate a 2026 commercial launch of the new products.