The development and implementation of strategies to prevent resistance to B.t.- expressing crops: an industry perspective

Abstract

Genes for the production of various Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) proteins have been incorporated into plants through the techniques of biotechnology. Since 1995, corn, cotton, and potato seed products containing B.t. genes have been introduced to the market. Simultaneous to the development and introduction of B.t. plants, tremendous research efforts were made by industry, academic, and government scientists to devise product-specific insect resistance management (IRM) programs. IRM has become an essential part of the development and regulatory review process for B.t.-expressing plants, as distinct from other conventional chemistries. Despite this unprecedented effort, the long-term success of insect-protected crops or other pest control tools ultimately depends on the transfer of information to, and adoption by, individual growers, The effective implementation of proactive IRM plans will require integration and interaction between regulators, manufacturers of the technology, seed companies, agri-chemical distributors and dealers, agricultural educators, and end-users of the technology.