risk-assessment
Risk assessment in plant science is the systematic process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating potential threats to plant health, ecosystems, and agricultural systems—such as pests, pathogens, invasive species, or environmental stressors. By quantifying the likelihood and consequences of these hazards, researchers and land managers can prioritize interventions and develop strategies to protect biodiversity and crop security. This framework is essential for guiding regulatory decisions around the introduction of new plant varieties, biocontrol agents, and genetically modified organisms.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-02-01
Europe's food safety authority reviewed hundreds of recent scientific studies on gene-edited crops, microbes, and animals and concluded that none revealed safety risks beyond what regulators had already considered. The finding supports continued confidence in the existing framework for evaluating these new breeding technologies.
A systematic literature review of studies on new genomic techniques (including gene editing) published up to October 2025 found zero studies containing new hazards not already addressed by prior EFSA scientific opinions.
The review covered organisms across three kingdoms — plants, microorganisms, and animals — as well as products derived from them, using formal inclusion/exclusion criteria and a pre-published protocol.
EFSA is required to deliver these horizon-scanning reports biannually to the European Commission, making this part of an ongoing regulatory monitoring system rather than a one-time assessment.