Eden Research gets two US patents for its encapsulation technology and compositions used in pesticides

Biopesticides and encapsulation technology company Eden Research has been granted two patents for its technology in the United States, it announced on Thursday.

The AIM-traded firm said patents for its ‘Sustaine’ encapsulation technology and compositions for insecticide products had both been granted by the US Patent Office.

It said Sustaine microcapsules are naturally sourced, plastic-free, biodegradable micro-spheres derived from yeast extract.

“Importantly, the Sustaine microencapsulation technology enables the use of naturally occurring terpenes for application in commercial crop protection,” the board explained in its statement.

Eden Research said the initial patent provided broad compositional protection for the encapsulation of terpenes in hollow cell wall particles.

The second patent provided protection for the use of compositions in a method of killing mites, or treating and preventing a mite infestation, which was a designed use for Eden's new insecticide products.

Eden outlined its intention to use a proportion of the proceeds from its fundraising in March to pursue the registration and commercialisation of its first insecticide products.

The initial investment and efficacy trials would target some of the highest value insecticide markets in the US, such as mites, in multiple high value crops including citrus, tree fruit and grapes.

It said the total estimated market size for those combined markets in the US was €330m.

The board said there was a “strong need” for an effective alternative to conventional insecticides in the US, due to consumer and regulatory pressures.

“The insecticide products will be additions to the company's current suite of products,” the board said.

“Eden's biopesticide product portfolio is based upon the powerful combination of plant-derived active ingredients and the Sustaine microencapsulation system.

“Eden's plant protection products offer ease of use and efficacy on par with conventional pesticides whilst being exempt from maximum residue levels in Europe and having low or no pre-harvest intervals, giving growers maximum control and flexibility.”