Abstract
China is the world's second-largest maize producer and consumer. In recent years, the invasive fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has adversely affected maize productivity and compromised food security. To mitigate pest-inflicted food shortages, China's Government issued biosafety certificates for two genetically modified (GM) Bt maize hybrids, Bt-Cry1Ab DBN9936 and Bt-Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj Ruifeng 125, in 2019. Here, we quantitatively assess the impact of both Bt maize hybrids on pest feeding damage, crop yield and food safety throughout China's maize belt. Without a need to resort to synthetic insecticides, Bt maize could mitigate lepidopteran pest pressure by 61.9-97.3%, avoid yield loss by 16.4-21.3% (range -11.9-99.2%) and lower mycotoxin contamination by 85.5-95.5% as compared to the prevailing non-Bt hybrids. Yield loss avoidance varied considerably between experimental sites and years, as mediated by on-site infestation pressure and pest identity. For either seed mixtures or block refuge arrangements, pest pressure was kept below established thresholds at 90% Bt maize coverage in Yunnan (where S. frugiperda was the dominant species) and 70% Bt maize coverage in other sites dominated by Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Drawing on experiences from other crop/pest systems, Bt maize in se can provide area-wide pest management and thus, contribute to a progressive phase-down of chemical pesticide use. Hence, when consciously paired with agroecological and biodiversity-based measures, GM insecticidal crops can ensure food and nutrition security, contribute to the sustainable intensification of China's agriculture and reduce food systems' environmental footprint.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Bt maize reduced lepidopteran pest pressure by 61.9-97.3%.
- Treatment
- Bt maizee0
- Outcome
- lepidopteran pest pressuree0
- Direction
- mitigatee0
- Value
- 61.9-97.3%e0
- Comparator
- non-Bt hybridse0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bt maize could mitigate lepidopteran pest pressure by 61.9-97.3%, avoid yield loss by 16.4-21.3% (range -11.9-99.2%) and lower mycotoxin contamination by 85.5-95.5% as compared to the prevailing non-Bt hybrids.”
Claim · model-written summary
Bt maize avoided 16.4-21.3% yield loss.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bt maize could mitigate lepidopteran pest pressure by 61.9-97.3%, avoid yield loss by 16.4-21.3% (range -11.9-99.2%) and lower mycotoxin contamination by 85.5-95.5% as compared to the prevailing non-Bt hybrids.”
Claim · model-written summary
Bt maize lowered mycotoxin contamination by 85.5-95.5%.
- Treatment
- Bt maizee0
- Outcome
- mycotoxin contaminatione0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Value
- 85.5-95.5%e0
- Comparator
- non-Bt hybridse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Bt maize could mitigate lepidopteran pest pressure by 61.9-97.3%, avoid yield loss by 16.4-21.3% (range -11.9-99.2%) and lower mycotoxin contamination by 85.5-95.5% as compared to the prevailing non-Bt hybrids.”
Claim · model-written summary
Yield loss avoidance varied among sites and years with pest pressure and identity.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Yield loss avoidance varied considerably between experimental sites and years, as mediated by on-site infestation pressure and pest identity.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
At 90% Bt coverage in Yunnan, S. frugiperda pressure stayed below thresholds.
- Treatment
- 90% Bt maize coveragee0
- Interactor
- S. frugiperda
.jpg?width=60)
Spodoptera frugiperdae0pest - Outcome
- pest pressuree0
- Direction
- belowe0
- Setting
- Yunnane0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“pest pressure was kept below established thresholds at 90% Bt maize coverage in Yunnan (where S. frugiperda was the dominant species)”
Claim · model-written summary
At 70% Bt coverage in other sites, H. armigera pressure stayed below thresholds.
- Treatment
- 70% Bt maize coveragee0
- Interactor
- Helicoverpa armigera
_gusano_cogollero.png?width=60)
Helicoverpa armigerae0pest - Outcome
- pest pressuree0
- Direction
- belowe0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_gusano_cogollero.png?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“pest pressure was kept below established thresholds at 90% Bt maize coverage in Yunnan (where S. frugiperda was the dominant species) and 70% Bt maize coverage in other sites dominated by Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée).”
Claim · model-written summary
At 70% Bt coverage in other sites, O. furnacalis pressure stayed below thresholds.
- Treatment
- 70% Bt maize coveragee0
- Interactor
- Ostrinia furnacalis
Ostrinia furnacalise0pest - Outcome
- pest pressuree0
- Direction
- belowe0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“pest pressure was kept below established thresholds at 90% Bt maize coverage in Yunnan (where S. frugiperda was the dominant species) and 70% Bt maize coverage in other sites dominated by Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée).”
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