Eden Research bird repellant gets temporary approval in Italy

Eden Research and Corteva Agriscience announced the temporary approval of Ecovelex 2023 in Italy on Monday for use as a bird-repellent seed treatment in corn during the 2024 growing season.

The AIM-traded firm collaborated with Corteva to develop an innovative seed treatment.

The board explained that Ecovelex 2023 would enter the seed treatment market as a viable alternative to conventional chemicals that lack approval in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom.

It was specifically engineered to address the crop destruction caused by birds, which had long been a significant factor contributing to losses in maize and various other crops.

The mechanism behind Ecovelex's effectiveness was in its ability to create an unpleasant taste or odour, effectively repelling birds without causing harm to them.

Eden said the approach ensured that seeds remained intact, allowing birds to seek alternative food sources without adverse effects.

The product was built on Eden's plant-derived chemistry, registered in the EU, the US and other regions.

It incorporates its proprietary Sustaine microencapsulation system, designed to support farmers in meeting consumer and regulatory demands for more sustainable agricultural practices.

"Eden's collaboration with Corteva Agriscience over the past several years has been highly productive, and I am pleased to see the first real-world benefits from these activities supporting farmers' requirements in Italy," said Eden chief executive officer Sean Smith.

"Together, we are bringing another safe and effective product to market in near record time through efficient, open collaboration.

"This is ultimately a win for farmers who will have a new, effective tool for improving crop yields, safely and sustainably."

At 1056 GMT, shares in Eden Research were up 15% at 4.72p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.