Key Takeaways
- Enko Chem announced successful European field trials targeting herbicide-resistant blackgrass in winter wheat.
- The trials showed strong weed control and high crop safety across test sites in the UK and France.
- Enko’s next-generation graminicides aim to replace conventional herbicides being phased out due to environmental concerns.
- The product candidates also demonstrated performance in prior field trials across North America and Australia.
- CEO Tony Klemm emphasized the urgent need for sustainable solutions in weed management and Enko’s role in meeting that demand.
Enko Chem Announces European Success in Blackgrass Control
Enko Chem, Inc., a U.S.-based AgTech company focused on developing sustainable crop protection solutions, has announced promising results from its latest European field trials. The trials assessed candidates from Enko Chem’s novel graminicide portfolio and demonstrated strong control of herbicide-resistant blackgrass in winter wheat, one of the most persistent and yield-threatening weeds in European cereal production.
Conducted across the United Kingdom and France, the trials showed Enko’s compounds outperforming commercial standards while maintaining high levels of crop safety.
“Growers urgently need new, effective, and environmentally responsible chemistry,” said Tony Klemm, CEO of Enko Chem. “This graminicide portfolio is proof that a smarter discovery model delivers solutions.”
Growing Threat of Herbicide Resistance Drives Innovation
As regulatory pressure increases and legacy herbicides are phased out, Enko Chem is targeting one of the most critical challenges in crop protection: managing resistant weed species. In Europe, blackgrass alone is responsible for yield losses of up to 70% in severely affected fields.
Enko’s graminicide candidates are designed to address these evolving challenges, using proprietary discovery models to develop safe and effective alternatives. These products are intended for use within current crop systems, offering growers a new mode of action against grass weeds without the environmental drawbacks of older chemistries.
Global Validation Across Weed Species and Geographies
Before the European trials, Enko Chem conducted successful fieldwork in North America and Australia. Trials in the U.S. demonstrated strong efficacy against crabgrass, goosegrass, and giant foxtail in warm-season crops. In Australia, Enko’s products were effective against resistant annual ryegrass, a major concern for local growers.
This consistent performance across continents and weed types supports the global relevance and adaptability of Enko’s graminicide portfolio.
“Our product candidates integrate seamlessly into existing cereal crop systems and deliver industry-leading control of resistant grass species,” Klemm added.
Enko Chem Looks Toward Commercialization with Industry Partners
Following the success of these field trials, Enko Chem is now advancing efforts to bring its products to market. The company is engaging with multiple industry partners to accelerate the global commercialization of its graminicide technologies.
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