Key Takeaways
- Enko Chem and Syngenta have advanced a new fungicide class—developed through the ENKOMPASS discovery platform—to field testing after strong controlled-environment results.
- The new molecules represent a potential breakthrough, providing a novel mode of action that the industry has pursued for decades.
- The program targets fungal pathogens in cereal production, among the most economically damaging threats to global crop yields.
- Syngenta will begin multi-location field trials next year to assess real-world performance.
- The collaboration underscores the need for new crop protection solutions as resistance to existing chemistries continues to rise.
Enko Chem and Syngenta Advance New Fungicide Class Toward Field Trials
Enko Chem, Inc. announced that a novel class of fungicide chemistry co-developed with Syngenta Crop Protection will move into field testing following promising data from controlled-environment evaluations. The chemistries were identified using Enko’s ENKOMPASS platform, which integrates DNA-encoded libraries, structural biology, and machine learning to screen large volumes of potential candidates with high precision.
The discovery represents a significant development in crop protection research, offering a new mode of action for fungal control—an area where innovation has been limited despite decades of effort.
Novel Mode of Action Targeting Major Cereal Pathogens
Fungal diseases remain among the most costly challenges for global cereal production, resulting in billions of dollars in yield losses annually. The emergence of resistance to existing fungicides has intensified the need for new modes of action that can provide durable performance.
The collaborative program between the two companies aims to offer growers an additional tool to manage key fungal pathogens. According to Enko, ENKOMPASS enables rapid identification of highly specific molecules with favorable characteristics for field deployment.
Field Testing Planned Across Multiple Locations For Enko & Syngenta
Syngenta plans to initiate field trials next year at several global testing sites to examine how the new chemistry performs under typical grower conditions. Progression to field testing follows strong performance indicators in controlled settings, marking a critical step toward assessing commercial potential.
“This milestone reflects steady progress in a complex area of crop protection research,” said Tony Klemm, CEO of Enko. “We look forward to the next stage of work with Syngenta as testing moves into field environments.”
Collaboration Continues to Focus on New Chemistry Discovery
The partnership remains centered on discovering and developing crop protection molecules with novel biological targets. Through this approach, Enko Chem aims to contribute to more sustainable and effective management tools for major crop diseases.
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