LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Eden Research announced on Monday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Royal Holloway, University of London, to advance the development of its flagship biopesticide seed treatment, Ecovelex.
The AIM-traded firm said the collaboration, formed under Innovate UK's Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme, would support Eden's efforts to expand the product's use to include cereal and vegetable seeds.

It said the KTP is funded 67% by Innovate UK and 33% by Eden, enabling the company to access specialist academic expertise, laboratory facilities, and a dedicated research associate.

Eden would work closely with Dr Tina Steinbrecher and Professor Gerhard Leubner from Royal Holloway's Plant Biochemistry faculty, whose involvement would be overseen by Eden's Lead Biology Research Scientist, Dr James Hourston.

Ecovelex is currently approved for temporary use in Italy as a maize seed treatment that repels birds by emitting a natural odour, protecting seeds without harming the environment.

It is under regulatory review for full EU authorisation.

The use of plant-based ingredients positioned the product as a sustainable alternative to synthetic treatments.

Eden said the planned expansion into new crop categories was a significant commercial opportunity, aligning with its strategy to grow its presence in larger agricultural markets through sustainable biocontrol technologies.

"Our new partnership with Royal Holloway represents the start of an exciting opportunity to expand the use of our seed treatment beyond maize into new cereals and grains," said chief executive officer Sean Smith.

"The KTP scheme is a fantastic initiative which has allowed us to expand and accelerate product development, with the backing of Innovate UK, and bring in the expertise of the brightest minds in seed applied science and technology."

Smith said the importance and value that Dr Tina Steinbrecher and professor Gerhard Leubner would bring to the project "cannot be understated".

"I look forward to working alongside them both, transferring their knowledge to our sustainable seed treatment development efforts in a bid to deliver an eco-friendly solution to farmers to help protect their farms from damaging infestations across a wider range of crop and bird species."

At 0812 BST, shares in Eden Research were down 0.78% at 3.57p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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