Eden Research PLC has received regulatory approval to use its biofungicide Mevalone in Germany – its fourth major regulatory approval in 12 months.

Mevalone is authorized for professional use on grapevines and apples, to control Botrytis on grapes and prevent apple storage diseases.

Germany, the fourth largest wine-producing country in Europe, is home to 13 designated wine regions accounting for a total area of 103,000 hectares. The country’s cooler climate is well-suited for growing white grape varieties; however, these conditions are also favourable for the development of fungal diseases which at the end of the growing season can threaten the harvest.

Germany is also a highly significant apple-growing nation, with annual harvests of more than 1.1 million tonnes. They are typically grown in environments with cooler winters and warmer summers with adequate rainfall that can often lead to humid conditions, resulting in fungi threat in the fruit during long cold storage periods.

With this approval, Eden Research, in partnership with Sumi Agro Europe, aims to capture a significant share of Germany’s biopesticide market.

“Germany is a particularly notable territory gain for Eden and Mevalone given the prevalence of fungal disease in the cooler conditions in which wine grapes and apples are grown,” said Sean Smith, chief executive officer of Eden Research. “It is also encouraging to note the German regulator’s support for products such as Mevalone as, like growers across Europe and the UK, German farmers are increasingly challenged by the removal of conventional pesticides from the market. Mevalone is the perfect tool to sustainably support farmers with efficacious products that help protect their crops, yields and profits.”