Eden Research has achieved a significant regulatory milestone with the approval of its flagship biofungicide, Mevalone®, for use on grapes in France against downy and powdery mildew. This label extension opens a major opportunity in one of the world’s largest wine markets, offering a timely sustainable alternative as restrictions on copper fungicides tighten.
Mevalone® approved in France for use on grapes against downy and powdery mildew
France
Eden Research plc (AIM: EDEN), a leader in sustainable biopesticide and biocontrol technologies, is pleased to announce that Mevalone has been granted approval by the French authorities for use on grapes to control downy and powdery mildew, subject to customary restrictions.
France is one of the world’s largest and most affected markets for grape downy mildew, and this is driving steady demand for conventional fungicides, biopesticides, and resistant varieties across its more-than 780,000 hectares of vines. Climate‑driven increases in mildew pressure, regulatory pressure on copper and synthetic chemistry, and growth in organic viticulture are reshaping the structure and dynamics of this market.
Downy mildew has become one of the most damaging diseases in French vineyards with recent years (2023-2024) seeing severe outbreaks in Bordeaux and many other regions, cutting local harvests by up to a fifth or more.
The Company currently estimates that the potential peak revenue for this opportunity (with its current label extension conditions on the timing of applications) to be in the region of up to €8 million per annum.
Biopesticides are a fast‑growing segment of the French crop protection market: the French biopesticides sector is estimated at more than USD 200 million in 2025 and is projected to grow strongly to 2030, with grapes representing a key market segment.
“With France recently having tightened rules on copper fungicides, revoking approval for many formulations and leaving only a small number of authorised copper products under stricter conditions, the approval of this label extension for Mevalone is timely, creating a significant opportunity for Eden in the coming years,” said Sean Smith, CEO of Eden Research.
“In addition, organic vineyard area has continued to increase with approximately one-fifth of French vineyard land now farmed organically, exceeding the national agricultural average and reinforcing demand for alternative solutions such as Mevalone, which is already certified as organic.”
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