Industry protects its production technologies and its biosecurity.

Crucial to the long term sustainability of the Australian  cotton industry is the capacity to effectively limit changes in insect pest, weed and disease threats that can occur through biosecurity incursions, diminishing efficacy of pesticides and GM traits, or through losing access to pesticides. Key strategies to manage these threats include conducting routine surveillance, building knowledge of risks and developing and implementing tactics that are effective in lowering the risks.

This theme builds on previous work and continues to support the industry in its efforts to effectively and efficiently manage its biosecurity and product stewardship responsibilities.

We will achieve this by:

  • Monitoring for and investigating changes in pest and weed susceptibility to biotechnologies and crop protection products used by the cotton industry.
  • Exploring tactics and strategies that lower the risks of pesticides to the environment and resistance evolution in populations of key insect pests and weeds.
  • Developing and supporting the industry’s capacity to effectively steward key technologies and products.
  • Supporting the industry’s preparedness and ability to deal with biosecurity threats.

Measures of success:

Industry is able to maintain its access to, and the effectiveness of, biotechnologies and crop protection products.

  • 100 percent of cotton farmers are aware of the underlying risks of trait and agricultural chemical resistance.
  • 100 percent of insecticide use decisions are consistent with the Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy (IRMS).
  • The cotton industry has the necessary science to provide informed input into the development of resistance management plans for biotech traits.
  • The cotton industry demonstrates pesticide management practices that lower the risks posed to the environment and the evolution of resistance in target insect pest and weed populations.

Industry is capable of managing its biosecurity responsibilities.

  • The cotton industry is able to meets its biosecurity obligations.
  • The cotton industry is prepared to effectively respond to biosecurity incursions. 


The Respected stewardship theme is managed by CRDC’s R&D Program Manager, Susan Maas. For more information, contact us.