A start-up spun-out of Cornell, Ascribe Biosciences is structured around commercializing small molecules isolated from plant parasitic nematodes as plant biostimulants to control a range of economically important crop diseases: effectively developing in crop plants a natural protection against pathogens. The premise is that by activating natural defenses against a wide range of agriculturally important pathogens, the economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture could be improved. Reduced use of potentially harmful pesticides and enhancement of food security worldwide would go some way towards feeding growing populations. Ascribes innovation of plant protectants that are is active at very low concentrations, can be readily synthesized in large quantities, and is biodegradable and non-toxic at the same time as reducing dependence on existing agrochemicals: copper, synthetic fungicides and antibiotics also curtailing the rate of resistance development. The Ascribe Biosciences approach includes development of a seed-coating formulation capable of long-term stability and efficacy, without adverse effect on seed germination or natural microbe/insect populations - also improveing economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture.
