MYSTIC, Conn. — Enko Chem, a U.S.-based agricultural technology company, has announced significant success in European field trials for its next-generation graminicide portfolio, showcasing a major advancement in the fight against herbicide-resistant grass weeds in cereal crops. The trials, conducted across the United Kingdom and France, demonstrated exceptional control of blackgrass in winter wheat fields—a weed notorious for slashing crop yields by as much as 70% in severe infestations.
The promising results position Enko’s novel chemistry as a potential breakthrough for growers facing shrinking options due to increasingly strict environmental regulations and the rising threat of herbicide resistance. In addition to its efficacy, the graminicide candidates showed excellent crop safety, offering a critical advantage over older chemical treatments that often carry higher environmental and health risks.
“This is a pivotal moment in crop protection,” said Tony Klemm, CEO of Enko. “Growers around the world are demanding tools that are both effective and sustainable. Our product candidates have not only delivered industry-leading weed control in the field but also align with the direction regulators and consumers are headed.”
Enko’s field trials in Europe follow earlier successes in North America, where the company’s products demonstrated control over warm-season grass weeds such as crabgrass, giant foxtail, and goosegrass. Similar results were seen in Australia, where the herbicides showed effectiveness against resistant annual ryegrass—another major threat to grain production.
The company’s graminicide portfolio is being developed as a next-generation solution that integrates easily into existing cereal crop systems while addressing resistance challenges that older herbicides can no longer manage. With fewer conventional options remaining on the market due to regulatory changes and environmental concerns, Enko’s innovation offers a much-needed alternative for sustainable agriculture.
Enko is now working with industry partners to accelerate commercialization and bring its products to market globally. The company’s approach combines modern chemical discovery techniques with a mission to create safer, more resilient tools for growers facing complex challenges in the field.
The latest trial results solidify Enko’s position as a leading innovator in AgTech, as it continues to develop cutting-edge crop protection solutions for a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape.
