J. Holloway, N. Storer, A. McCaffery, E. Owens and G. Head

In 2006, IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee; www.irac-online.org) established a new Project Team to address resistance management issues with international significance related to insect-protected biotech crops. The area of cotton protected by Bt is increasing and the range of IR traits available to growers is broadening.

It is in the interest of technology providers, in partnership with growers, universities and governments, to preserve the long-term benefits of Bt crops by taking proactive resistance management measures that maximize the utility of the technology. Bt crops present some unique challenges to insect resistance management (IRM) since many of the measures taken to protect the durability of sprayable chemicals are not applicable to in-plant protection. The IRAC International Biotech Team is charged with globally advancing guidelines for designing locally-workable resistance management measures. We will develop and distribute educational materials to help technology providers, seed companies, and growers appreciate the need for IRM and understand how to implement IRM programs. The group will also be able to assist country-level organizations develop specific resistance management programs for insect-protected biotech crops geared to local conditions, cultivation practices and pest spectra. We will recommend sound scientific principles to be the foundation of these plans while recognizing the commercial and infrastructure realities in each geography.