Eden Research‘s Mevalone biofungicide receives new label extension in Portugal

Eden Research plc (AIM: EDEN), the AIM-quoted company focused on sustainable biopesticides and plastic-free formulation technology for use in global crop protection, animal health and consumer products industries, announces that its biofungicide, Mevalone^®, has received authorisation for use on new crops in Portugal (where it is marketed as Araw^®) for the control of the disease Botrytis cinerea, a destructive fungal pathogen affecting many plant species.

This latest label extension adds strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, kiwi, aubergines and peppers to the label, with product applications being permitted close to the point of harvest. The use of Araw affords growers maximum flexibility in their crop protection programmes as it is free from residues and provides growers the important benefit of avoiding product rejections by wholesalers and food retailers that can result from higher-than-allowed pesticide residue levels.

Eden's biofungicide product, which is known as "Mevalone" in much of Europe, is sold exclusively in Spain and Portugal by Eden's commercial partner, Sipcam Iberia and Portugal ("Sipcam"), under the brand name "Araw". Based on natural active ingredients (eugenol, geraniol and thymol), Araw is a useful tool in crop defence progammes and is aligned with the demanding requirements of integrated pest management programmes. The Atlantic Ocean heavily influences the climate in Portugal, making large areas mild and moist for much of the year, which is beneficial for crops but also favours the development of fungal pathogens. Therefore, the broader availability of a biofungicide such as Araw provides an innovative and valuable product for growers.

Sipcam has extensive experience with Araw and has recently supported significant label extensions in Spain. This approval in Portugal will enable Sipcam to expand the market for Araw across thousands of hectares of new high value crops. Portugal is in the top ten kiwi producers in the world and over 14,000 tonnes of strawberries are exported from Portugal on an annual basis. 

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