Eden Research's Ecovelex gets another temporary approval in Italy

(Sharecast News) - Eden Research said in an update on Monday that its bird-repellent maize seed treatment Ecovelex has received temporary approval in Italy for the 2026 growing season, ensuring farmers could continue to access it. The AIM-traded firm said the authorisation, granted under EU Regulation 1107/2009, repeated the time-limited permission first introduced in 2023 and allowed it to sell Ecovelex while it awaited full EU-wide approval.

It said Ecovelex provides a sustainable solution to crop destruction caused by birds by emitting an unpleasant taste or odour that deters feeding without harming the animals.

Developed at Eden's Oxfordshire facility, the product uses the group's plant-derived active ingredients and its plastic-free Sustaine microencapsulation technology.

Eden had already registered the actives in the EU, US, Mexico and other markets.

"This most recent temporary approval effectively repeats the time-limited permitted use of Ecovelex in Italy, which was first introduced in 2023 on a temporary basis," said chief executive Sean Smith.

"It comes as welcome news to the many local maize farmers who depend on seeds treated with Ecovelex as one of the only viable solutions left to protect against bird infestation."

He added that the authorisation "enables Eden to sell Ecovelex whilst we await full EU-wide authorisation, which is expected in due course."

Eden submitted its regulatory dossier to Austria in 2023, acting as the EU's interzonal rapporteur member state.

Full authorisation was expected once the EU review was complete, after which individual member states would ratify or request additional information before issuing local approvals.

At 1100 GMT, shares in Eden Research were up 4.55% at 2.3p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.