Enko Wins “AI-based AgTech Platform of the Year” in 2026 AgTech Breakthrough Awards Program

Award recognizes ENKOMPASS™ for changing how new crop chemistry is discovered and advanced

MYSTIC, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enko Chem, Inc. today announced that ENKOMPASS™, its AI-powered discovery platform, has been named “AI-based AgTech Platform of the Year” in the 7th annual AgTech Breakthrough Awards program. The award recognizes a discovery model designed to reduce the time and capital required to find and advance new crop chemistry.

“Faster progress. Lower cost. Greater impact. I am proud to see the Enko team recognized for what we set out to do, which is change the speed and economics of crop protection discovery,” said Tony Klemm, CEO of Enko. “ENKOMPASS gives us a fundamentally different way to search for and advance new chemistry at a time when agriculture needs new solutions faster than ever.”

Early-stage discovery is the most expensive and failure-prone stage of crop protection R&D. Chemists design, synthesize and test compounds in small batches, and most of that spend goes toward molecules that never advance. ENKOMPASS attacks the problem where it starts. DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening, machine learning and advanced molecular design allow Enko to evaluate billions of molecules and identify the most promising chemistry.

Every screen makes the next one better. As Enko generates more data, its machine learning models become better at predicting which molecules are most promising. Scientists guide the process, validate the results and decide what advances. The result is faster learning, earlier decisions and more efficient use of capital across the discovery process.

Enko tackles expensive unknowns earlier. New crop protection chemistry must clear regulatory requirements, demonstrate environmental safety and be manufacturable at scale. Traditional discovery programs often uncover these challenges later, when they become more costly to address. Enko brings molecular design, greenhouse testing and early safety screening together within one discovery process, allowing teams to identify potential issues sooner and focus resources on the chemistry with the clearest path to becoming a product.

“Agriculture needs new chemistry, and it needs that chemistry faster than the traditional discovery model can deliver,” said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director, AgTech Breakthrough. “ENKOMPASS changes the economics of discovery by allowing Enko to evaluate billions of molecules and focus its resources on the strongest candidates earlier. We’re pleased to recognize ENKOMPASS as ‘AI-based AgTech Platform of the Year.’”

Resistance is spreading and regulatory requirements are increasing, leaving growers with fewer options and a growing need for new modes of action. ENKOMPASS brings together AI, advanced chemistry and scientific judgment to discover and advance the next generation of crop protection solutions.