The plans currently available to the public outline broad scientific approaches that might work to monitor and control the evolution of Bt resistance if sufficient resources were committed on a long-term basis to their implementation. In light of the practical uncertainties associated with prevention strategies, the current plans for monitoring intensify concern that neither the government nor the companies can assure that Bt will not be lost as a result of the use of Bt crops. Evaluation of Plans To be effective, a monitoring plan must contain a method of detecting the emergence of resistant insects early enough for eradication to be possible. When Bt crops are used over large areas, identifying small pockets of resistant organisms is a considerable challenge. Once resistant insects are discovered, mitigation measures must eradicate the resistant organisms.
Different pests require different mitigation measures.
If the pest is sedentary, for example, eradication measures may be limited to the farm on which the resistant organisms were identified. If the pests are mobile, eradication measures may have to be applied to a much wider area. In terms of mitigation and monitoring, the potato plan is the skimpiest of the three. This is because the plan is not a condition of Monsanto's Bt-potato permit, but only a voluntary submission. The plan promises to sample populations of the Colorado potato beetle through time looking for changes in resistance.