Bt maize can provide non‐chemical pest control and enhance food safety in China

• Published in: Plant biotechnology journal 2023-02, Vol.21 (2), p.391-404
• Main Authors: Yang, Xianming, Zhao, Shengyuan, Liu, Bing, Gao, Yu, Hu, Chaoxing, Li, Wenjing, Yang, Yizhong, Li, Guoping, Wang, Lili, Yang, Xueqing, Yuan, Haibin, Liu, Jian, Liu, Dazhong, Shen, Xiujing, Wyckhuys, Kris A. G., Lu, Yanhui, Wu, Kongming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Animals; Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Biodiversity; Biosafety; block refuge; Bt gene; Bt maize; China; Corn; Crop damage; Crop yield; Crops; Dominant species; Endotoxins - genetics; Environmental health; Evolution; Farms; Food contamination; Food Safety; Food security; Genetic modification; Genetically engineered organisms; Hemolysin Proteins - genetics; Herbivores; Hybrids; Impact damage; Insecticides; Insecticides - pharmacology; lepidopteran pest pressure; Moths; mycotoxin contamination; Mycotoxins; Nutrition; Pathogens; Pest control; Pest Control, Biological; Pesticides; Pests; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Pressure; Seat belts; seed mixtures; Seeds; Spodoptera frugiperda; Transgenic plants; Zea mays - genetics
• ISSN: 1467-7644; 1467-7652; 1467-7652
• DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13960

Summary 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.