Eden Research PLC (AIM:EDEN, OTCQB:EDNSF) has applied for EU authorisation of its new product, Ecovelex, developed in collaboration with Corteva Agriscience, which will also be the distribution partner for the innovative new product.
It is poised to enter the seed treatment market as an alternative to conventional chemicals, currently facing prohibition in Europe. A UK application will follow soon.
Ecovelex is designed to address the widespread damage caused by birds, a significant challenge in the maize industry and other crops.
In a non-harmful approach, the Eden formulation interacts with the bird's olfactory system, inducing an unpleasant taste or smell that deters the birds, thereby leaving the crops intact and the birds free to seek other food sources.
Eden's CEO, Sean Smith, said: "[Our] collaboration with Corteva Agriscience over the past several years has been highly productive, and I am pleased to see the first real commercial benefits from these activities within reach.
"Together, we are bringing another safe and effective seed treatment to market in near record time through efficient, open collaboration and a real 'win-win' approach.
"We will enjoy the rewards of this successful collaboration jointly, but it is the farmers who will also win as we will be providing them with a new tool for improving crop yields, safely and sustainably."
The approval process in the EU is expected to take between 18 and 24 months. Meanwhile, Eden has also engaged in widespread collaborations with Corteva, including appointing them as Eden's distribution partner in France for their fungicide product, Mevalone.