Eden Research has partnered with Corteva to commercialise Ecovelex™ in the European Union

Eden Research, which develops and provides sustainable solutions for crop protection, animal health and consumer goods, has applied for EU registration of its seed treatment agent Ecovelex™ and will soon apply for registration in the UK. Corteva is its distribution partner.

Developed by Corteva and Eden over three years in the making, Ecovelex is the latest product in the seed treatment market. It aims to replace traditional chemicals banned in the EU and UK and tackle crop damage caused by birds, a major cause of corn and other crop losses. Ecovelex is based on plant-derived chemicals and formulated using Eden's Sustaine® microcapsule system to help meet consumer demands for more sustainable agriculture. The product works by affecting the birds' olfactory systems to produce an unpleasant smell, leaving the seeds intact and leaving the birds free to seek other sources of food.

"After several years of research and development and fruitful collaboration, we are excited to commercialize Ecovelex," said Andre Negreiros, Technical lead for EMEA Seed Applications at Corteva. Farmers face significant losses from birds every year, and recent regulatory changes mean that traditional methods of preventing crop damage are no longer viable. Our work with Eden provides farmers with safe and effective alternatives and takes a big step forward in sustainability through the use of phytochemistry. The Eden team has done an excellent job in responding to this huge market opportunity and we look forward to expanding this work in the future."

"Through efficient, open collaboration and a true 'win-win,' we are working together to bring another safe and effective seed treatment agent to market," said Sean Smith, Eden's CEO. We will enjoy the rewards of successful collaboration and farmers will be winners as we give them a new tool to increase crop yields in a safe and sustainable way."

  Eden has submitted its dossier and application to Austria, which will act as the interregional reporting member State on behalf of the EU. Review and authorisation can take 18 to 24 months, and each EU member state can approve authorisation or request additional information before local authorisation.

In addition to Ecovelex, Corteva and Eden have also collaborated extensively, including Corteva as Eden's distribution partner for Mevalone®, Eden's fungicide product in France.