104435GEiGS (Genome Editing induced Gene Silencing)ClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UK"GMO crops incorporate foreign DNA into the genome to create specific improvements such as yield increases or disease tolerance. However, this methodology requires extensive development processes, strict regulatory approval pathways and encounters strong public stigmatization. There is a new method for crop protection which utilizes RNA interference (RNAi), which promises to allow us to address some of agriculture's greatest priority challenges (including root knot nematodes \[$10'sBn damage annually\], _Potato leafroll polerovirus_ \[$100'sM damage annually\]) and increase food security on a global scale. However, there is a significant technological barrier which is preventing RNAi being used in most crops in a non-GMO manner. We are developing a unique and highly innovative approach to enable RNAi mediated disease protection to be imbued to all agricultural crops in a non transgenic manner."