The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has invited public comments on its draft Environmental Assessment and Plant Pest Risk Assessment regarding the potential deregulation of Corteva's GM insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant maize variety DP23211. The DP23211 genetic event provides protection against specific coleopteran pests via expression of DvSSJ1 and IPD072Aa genes, and tolerance to glufosinate herbicides through expression of the pat gene. The expression of DvSSJ1 results in the production of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) which targets coleopteran pests such as the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera), resulting in mortality through RNA interference (RNAi). Corteva's DP23211 maize was approved for commercial release in Canada in 2021 (see AgbioNews Apr 28, 2021).