Combating Resistance: Insect Resistance Management and Modeling

There are several factors to consider when creating a IRM model:

• The nature of the product, its performance, and how it is used
• The genetics of insect resistance
• Aspects of insect behavior like movement and mating that affect how the product works on those insects

In determining when resistance could happen, we also consider historical data and/or similar versions of technologies to help determine how resistance may impact current and future products.

'Even when insects have developed resistance to certain technologies, we can learn a lot by doing a sort of post-mortem on the product. It provides us with more precise information about how resistance happens, allowing us to tweak our models,' Head explained.

In addition, the impact of other variables like environmental conditions, refuge strategy, sustainable cropping practices, and more can also be assessed.

'Our models are only as good as the information we have available,' Head said, 'so, we try to account for as many variables as we can either through real-life data or simulations.'

While it is important to address resistance from the start, the issue of resistance isn't black and white.

'There's a perception that once resistance has happened, the product is useless and nothing can be done to fix it, but we're doing what we can to mitigate the effects of resistance,' Head explained.

Through this work, Monsanto is trying to help reduce the impact of resistance on our farmers and, ultimately, our global food supply, from the start as well as after resistance has occurred.