Eden Research plc (LON:EDEN) has received full authorisation for its nematicide formulation Cedroz in Mexico, potentially opening up the US market to the natural pesticide.
The approval is the first for any Eden-developed product in the Americas.
Eastman Chemical is Eden research’s commercial partner on the product and will start a roll-out of Cedroz in 2020.
This includes extensive live trials under local conditions to determine the best possible use of Cedroz in different scenarios and for a range of crops, said Sean Smith, Eden's chief executive.
Cedroz is designed to fight nematodes, a pest that causes severe damage both in the field and greenhouse.
Mexico has authorised its use on a wide range of crops, including tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons, chili peppers, pepinos and squash, but the country is also a large exporter of fresh produce to the US and this is a commercially important territory for Eastman said Smith.
US imports of agricultural products from Mexico totalled $26bn in 2018
Smith added that demand for more natural, biopesticide solutions in the US is rapidly increasing as consumers there want residue-free fruit and vegetables.