The new monitoring plans are designed to detect small shifts in pest sensitivity, and under most circumstances should allow for detection of pest adaptation before field failures occur and allow implementation of mitigation steps to slow the spread of resistance. We believe these improvements are adequate and suggest that the plan be implemented and evaluated before any further modifications are initiated. To be effective, the IRM plan must achieve a high level of grower compliance. Refuge requirements must be logistically feasible, economically sound and flexible, including a variety of options to address unique characteristics of individual farming practices and challenges. A major theme of the 1998 EPA sub-panel on Bt plant pesticides and resistance management was grower acceptance of IRM programs .
Education is the most effective means to support a high level of grower compliance.
The biotech industry works together with various crop organizations such as the National Cotton Council and the National Corn Growers Association to communicate IRM plans and information to growers. A program that educates growers to the necessity of IRM and provides guidance on deployment of IRM programs needs to be an integral part of any resistant management strategy. BIO members make every attempt to provide growers with consistent messages and with the most current resistance management guidelines. Collaboration among stakeholders has helped to achieve a high level of compliance. Growers have accepted the responsibility for resistance management so long as approaches are logistically feasible, economically sound and flexible for a variety of common farming practices.