RNA interference (RNAi) is an emerging technology that offers new opportunities for the generation of new traits in genetically modified (GM) plants. Potential risks associated with RNAi-based GM plants and issues specific to their risk assessment were discussed during an international scientific workshop (June 2014) organized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Selected key outcomes of the workshop are reported here.
Keywords: RNA interference; bioinformatic data; genetically modified plants; off-target effects; risk assessment; safety.
© 2014 Society for Experimental Biology, Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.