Ashland Inc. secured U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval for its agrimer™ eco‑coat polymer seed coating, a nature‑based, microplastic‑free technology that can be used in all food and non‑food pesticide formulations under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The approval, posted on February 9 2026, removes the last regulatory hurdle that had limited the product’s commercial availability in the United States and opens new sales channels for the company’s Transformed Vegetable Oils (TVO) platform.
The agrimer™ eco‑coat is part of Ashland’s specialty ingredients business, which has been a focus of the company’s growth strategy. The approval complements existing registrations in Latin America and Europe and positions the product as a sustainable alternative to conventional seed‑coating polymers. By enabling U.S. growers to buy, sell, and test the coating, Ashland can accelerate adoption of its TVO technology across vegetable, grain, fruit, and floral markets.
Ashland’s Q1 2026 earnings report showed a net loss of $12 million and sales of $386 million, down 5 % year‑over‑year. The loss was driven by mixed demand in the Specialty Additives segment and the divestiture of its Avoca business. Management noted that the company is pursuing portfolio optimization and cost actions to improve profitability, and the new EPA approval is a key step toward offsetting these headwinds by expanding the product’s market reach.
Senior vice president and general manager of life sciences, Alessandra Faccin, said the approval “creates new opportunities for collaboration with U.S. customers and partners” and highlighted the product’s nature‑based, microplastic‑free attributes. Business director of crop care, Jean Jacques Gulka, added that the approval “further advances our purpose to responsibly solve for a better world” and underscores the strategic importance of the TVO platform.
While the approval is a significant regulatory milestone, Ashland remains mindful of ongoing demand softness in coatings, construction, and personal‑care segments. The company’s guidance for the remainder of fiscal 2026 reflects a cautious outlook, but the EPA registration is expected to strengthen the specialty ingredients pipeline and support long‑term growth.
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