Performance of Strip Intercropping of Genetically Modified Maize and Soybean Against Major Target Pests

The commercialization of genetically modified (GM) maize and soybean is advancing, with strip intercropping emerging as a promising model to enhance crop yields and resource efficiency. However, the impact of this system on target pests remains unclear. To address this, we evaluated eight different planting patterns (four different monocultures and four different strip intercropping integrations) of insect-resistant GM maize (‘RF88’) and soybean (CAL16) events and their non-transgenic parental lines (Xianyu 335 maize and Tianlong No. 1 soybean) in the Huang-Huai-Hai planting area from 2023 to 2025. Our results identified Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera exigua as the dominant pests on maize and soybean, respectively. We found that the GM trait significantly reduced the population density and plant damage caused by these pests. Strip intercropping also provided significant suppression across both crop lines. Furthermore, the integration of strip intercropping and the GM trait resulted in the most effective pest control. This study provides valuable insights for the top-level design and industrial layout of GM crop commercialization and contributes to promoting its safe application and sustainable pest management.