By Daphne Ewing-Chow

Senior Contributor. Stories about food & agriculture through the lens of climate change.

Rice, the world’s most consumed staple, provides 20% of global daily calories, and feeds billions. Yet, its production is under increasing pressure from pests and diseases, with Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) ranking among the most devastating. Farmers have few solutions that are truly effective, affordable, and sustainable. But Ascribe Bio, a New York-based agtech firm, says it has developed Phytalix— a biopesticide that not only combats BLB and other pathogens but also boosts rice yields by up to two tons per hectare— according to the results of recent field trials.

Jay Farmer, CEO and Co-founder of Ascribe Bio, refers to Phytalix as “a transformative development for farmers big and small.” The solution is derived from natural molecules sourced from the soil microbiome, making it a sustainable alternative for the world’s 144 million rice farmers. By strengthening the plant’s immune system, Phytalix helps rice crops fend off infection, improving both yield and sustainability while ensuring the safety of farmers, consumers, beneficial soil organisms and the environment.

Mainstream BLB management strategies have come with major drawbacks. Chemical pesticides like copper salts provide limited protection while degrading soil health and posing environmental risks. Antibiotics such as streptomycin and tetracycline, commonly used in rice fields, contribute to antibiotic resistance— prompting warnings from the World Health Organization that they are not a viable long-term solution. Meanwhile, breeding disease-resistant rice varieties holds promise, but the process takes years, leaving farmers with no immediate alternatives.

“Current chemical solutions used to manage these diseases are not meeting growers’ needs,” says Farmer. “They are harmful to the environment, expensive, and are losing their efficacy as pathogens develop resistance.”

The Case of India

As the world’s top rice exporter, shipping 22 million metric tons overseas each year, and producing 27% of global supply, Indian rice is crucial to global food security. Yet, the industry is highly susceptible to BLB, which thrives in India’s warm, humid climate, threatening to cut yields by up to 80% in severely affected areas, and posing a serious risk to farmers and global rice markets.

“India, being the world’s second-largest rice producer, faces substantial economic risks if BLB outbreaks remain unchecked,” says Dr. Ramji Singh, Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Agriculture and Technology in Meerut, India. “A decline in production disrupts both domestic supply and export markets. Locally, it can trigger price hikes, affecting consumers and government-run food security programs.” Despite various control methods, an effective, scalable, and environmentally safe solution for BLB has remained elusive.

Erika Balzarelli, Founder & CEO of The Sustainable Smallholder, highlights the growing challenges smallholder farmers in India and Southeast Asia face in managing BLB. Conventional treatments are becoming less effective, forcing many farmers to rely on antibiotics, often in excessive doses. This not only harms the environment and their health but also accelerates antibiotic resistance. Meanwhile, synthetic chemical treatments remain costly, trapping smallholders in an economic cycle they can scarcely afford.

Recent Phytalix field trials conducted by AgReveal across India’s major rice-growing regions mark a significant breakthrough. Srinivas Veeranki, Managing Director of AgReveal, refers to the findings as “a major step forward for farmers and global food security, offering effective and long-lasting disease control while also making rice production more resilient to growing environmental and market challenges.”

Held at 17 sites, the trials uncovered an 83% reduction in BLB severity in rice treated with the biofungicide, outperforming traditional treatments by over 20%, and resulting in yield increases of up to 30% in areas with high BLB pressure. On average, Phytalix boosted yields by 13% across all sites, including those impacted by other rice diseases like Sheath Blight and Rice Blast. The product also proved fully compatible with existing farming practices, making it a promising option for both smallholder and large-scale rice producers.

“Our novel mode of action checks all the boxes to fit farmers’ needs: it’s environmentally friendly, it beats the efficacy of current solutions in controlling BLB, and it’s easy to use and scalable without requiring the adoption of new cultivation practices or expensive equipment,” says Farmer.

These findings also align with the priorities set by 2024’s triple COPs on biodiversity, climate change, and desertification, collectively known as the Rio Conventions, which emphasized integrating traditional knowledge with modern solutions.

A Growing Opportunity

Driven by advancements in agricultural practices and rising demand, global rice production is projected to increase by 11.12% by 2030, but scaling production sustainably is critical, as rice farming has a significant environmental footprint. Paddy fields, which require continuous flooding, generate methane emissions that account for about 8% of agricultural greenhouse gases. Rice is also one of the largest consumers of freshwater, with irrigation-intensive practices straining vital resources. Use of chemical pesticides and other inputs degrade soil health and pollute waterways, further threatening long-term productivity.

Not surprisingly, the demand for natural, non-chemical agricultural inputs is growing at a rapid pace. The organic farming sector, valued at $170.89 billion in 2022, is expected to reach $375.80 billion by 2030 (CAGR 10.35%), while the agricultural biologicals market— including biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants—is set to grow from $16.67 billion in 2024 to $31.84 billion by 2029 (CAGR 13.8%). This surge is driven by increasing consumer awareness, environmental concerns, and evolving regulations, particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Pending regulatory approvals in Brazil and the U.S., along with future plans for approval in key Asian rice-producing countries, could unlock major markets for Phytalix. By addressing adoption challenges like cost, efficacy, and compatibility, the path is being paved for expanded biofungicide use in global rice production.

A Promise For The Future

Under the sweltering sun in one of the world’s 100 rice-producing countries, a farmer walks her fields, concerned. The once-vibrant green leaves of her rice plants are now streaked with yellow lesions, curling at the edges— classic signs of BLB. She knows what’s at stake. Without an effective treatment, the disease could devastate her harvest, leaving her unable to repay her loans or provide for her family. This is the crisis playing out across rice fields worldwide.

Rice is a dietary staple for more than half of the world’s population, with 90% of production concentrated in Asia. In food-insecure regions, it is not just a source of nutrition but a critical livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers. As a key commodity in global trade and government food distribution programs, rice plays a vital role in economic stability, poverty reduction, and food security. Ensuring its resilience against diseases like BLB is essential for maintaining production and feeding a growing global population.

Shifting climate patterns— rising temperatures, increased humidity, and more frequent extreme weather— are worsening the spread and severity of BLB, allowing it to take hold in regions where it was previously uncommon. For smallholder farmers, the cost of managing BLB adds to their financial strain, making it harder to sustain their livelihoods.

“BLB is just one of many challenges farmers face,” says Farmer, alluding to the multi-faceted benefits offered by the biopesticide. “We’re trying to equip farmers all over the world with scientifically validated, natural crop protection that improves both productivity and sustainability. These Phytalix field trials show that sometimes the biological solution can be the farmer’s first choice for performance.”

Published Date: March 5, 2025