Eden Research PLC (AIM:EDEN, OTCQB:EDNSF) shares have pared some of their early gains but remain up 3% at 2.27p after the biopesticides group confirmed that Italy has granted another temporary authorisation for its Ecovelex seed treatment ahead of the 2026 maize season.
The approval, issued under EU Regulation 1107/2009, gives farmers continued access to one of the few bird-repellent treatments still available following the phase-out of older chemical options in the EU and UK.
Ecovelex, developed at Eden’s Oxfordshire site, uses plant-derived ingredients and the company’s plastic-free Sustaine microencapsulation system to deter birds through an unpleasant taste or smell, leaving crops and wildlife unharmed.
Chief executive Sean Smith said the renewed authorisation “effectively repeats” the temporary approval first granted in 2023 and provides reassurance to farmers who rely on the product until full EU-wide approval is secured.
Austria is acting as rapporteur member state for the regulatory process, with Eden expecting a pan-European decision “in due course”.
The company said the extension allows continued commercial sales into Italy while the broader approval process moves forward.