Key Takeaways:
- Loveland Products and Ascribe Bioscience are expanding their U.S. collaboration to include new Phytalix® premixes targeting row crops.
- Phytalix is a biofungicide derived from soil microbiome molecules, offering a novel mode of action and broad-spectrum disease control.
- Field trials over three seasons have shown strong performance, supporting the development of new EPA-submitted products by 2025.
- The initiative aligns with Nutrien Ag Solutions’ strategy to grow its proprietary biological portfolio under the Loveland Products brand.
- Loveland’s expanded biosolutions lineup is part of a broader push to deliver agronomic value and resistance management tools to growers.
Loveland Products and Ascribe Bioscience Expand Phytalix Partnership in U.S. Row Crop Market
Loveland Products, Inc., a subsidiary of Nutrien Ag Solutions, and Ascribe Bioscience have announced an expanded collaboration to bring additional Phytalix®-based crop protection solutions to the U.S. market. The strategic partnership builds on a successful relationship initiated in 2023, focused on cereals, corn, and soybeans.
The new phase will include proprietary premixes of Phytalix, a biofungicide that activates a plant’s innate defenses through naturally derived molecules from the soil microbiome.
“Phytalix brings a new mode of action fungicide into Loveland’s product portfolio,” said Casey McDaniel, Vice President of Loveland Products. “It supports continued access to effective disease control as resistance pressures grow.”
Phytalix: Biofungicide with Novel Mode of Action
Field Trial Results and Compatibility
Phytalix has demonstrated consistent performance in multi-year field trials. Its integration into existing fungicide blends enables broad-spectrum control and resistance management. The product is also compatible with other crop protection chemistries, enhancing Loveland’s ability to deliver comprehensive solutions.
Key features include:
- Activation of plant immune response
- Control of multiple fungal pathogens
- Application versatility in row crops
- New disease control options for resistance-prone regions
“Loveland Products has been a forward-thinking collaborator,” noted Jay Farmer, Co-Founder and CEO of Ascribe Bioscience. “We’ve seen outstanding field performance and potential economic benefits for growers.”
Broader Product Development and Regulatory Timeline
Loveland Products expects to submit new Phytalix-based products to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the end of 2025. These formulations are intended to serve row crop growers looking for sustainable and effective disease management tools.
This expansion fits within Loveland’s broader biosolutions strategy, which also includes recent products such as:
- N-FINITY™ – focused on nitrogen use efficiency
- TERRAMAR® – a stress mitigation solution for crop resilience
Strategic Growth of Biological Offerings at Loveland Products
Positioning for Long-Term Biological Market Demand
As part of Nutrien Ag Solutions, Loveland Products continues to invest in biological research and proprietary technologies. The organization has emphasized predictable performance through a combination of biological and chemical insights, aiming to deliver science-backed tools with defined modes of action.
With a direct route to growers through Nutrien’s distribution network, Loveland is positioned to scale biosolutions like Phytalix to meet rising market demand.
“Our mission is to equip farmers with cutting-edge tools that deliver both agronomic and economic returns,” added McDaniel.
