• ICIG Ventures invests in Ascribe to prepare for launch of Phytalix, a small-molecule biofungicide with pending regulatory approvals in Brazil and the U.S. • The funding leverages ICIG’s global manufacturing expertise to help scale production • Phytalix addresses critical barriers to biofungicide adoption in row crops, offering farmers a cost-effective disease control compatible with conventional practices

Frankfurt, Germany, January 29, 2025 -- ICIG Ventures, the venture arm of International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), has announced a new venture investment in Ascribe (www.ascribebio.com), a developer of natural crop protection solutions. This investment will support Ascribe's commercial launch of Phytalix, its flagship small-molecule biofungicide.

Strategic Investment to Scale Manufacturing
Alongside ICIG Ventures' financial investment, the companies will explore opportunities to leverage the global chemical manufacturing capabilities of the WeylChem Group, ICIG's fine chemicals platform to accelerate commercial-scale manufacture of Phytalix.

Pelin Yilmaz, ICIG Ventures Director, states: "ICIG Ventures is proud to invest in Ascribe as it prepares for its next phase of growth. Ascribe's technology represents a breakthrough in natural crop protection, combining sustainability and efficacy to address unmet needs in global crop protection. We are excited to apply our expertise in small-molecule manufacturing to help Ascribe scale Phytalix and deliver environmental and economic benefits across millions of acres worldwide."

Advancing Towards Commercialization
With over 500 successful field trials in the world's largest fungicide markets, a strong IP position, and a distribution agreement with Nutrien for U.S. row crops, Ascribe is rapidly advancing toward commercialization. Forthcoming regulatory approvals in Brazil and the U.S. are expected to unlock significant market opportunities for Phytalix, which tackles the key barriers to adoption of biofungicides in row crop markets—cost, efficacy, and compatibility.

Jay Farmer, CEO of Ascribe:"ICIG's manufacturing network spans the U.S., EU, and India and this investment and partnership strengthens our ability to meet global demand and accelerate our path to market. We are thrilled to launch a technology that unlocks value for agriculture and reduces environmental impacts, and we can not wait to get Phytalix in the hands of farmers worldwide."

About ICIG
International Chemical Investors Group is a privately owned industrial group with a total turnover of more than €4 billion. ICIG focuses on several main platforms: Fine Chemicals under the WeylChem brand, Care Chemicals (Catexel), Chlorovinyls (Vynova), Compounds (Benvic), Hydrocarbons & Solvents (HCS Group), Superabsorbents (Stockhausen Superabsorber) and Enterprises with specialized businesses in industrial drying services, fermentation products, viscose filaments, activated carbon and wood protection chemicals. Today, the ICIG companies employ more than 7,800 people and operate more than 50 production sites in Europe, the U.S and India.

About Ascribe
Ascribe is an Ithaca, NY-based agriculture technology company developing natural crop protection products. Founded in 2017 and based on initial discoveries from the Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell University, Ascribe's technology harnesses small molecules from the soil microbiome for big impact. The results are environmentally friendly disease control solutions that empower farmers to grow more resilient crops, harvest higher yields and ensure a more bountiful future for global agriculture.