Cotton crops protected from pest, weed and disease threats. 

Significant advancements in protecting the Australian cotton crop from insect pest, weed and disease threats have been achieved in recent times and the introduction of transgenic cotton has seen significant changes in the management practices of cotton farmers and the landscape in which cotton is grown. New challenges for farmers in successfully protecting their crop will likely emerge over the life of this plan.

Tighter regulation of agricultural chemicals could change the cotton industry’s access to products for insect, pest and weed management, unexpected adaptations in pest species can enhance their capacity to survive and thrive in the cotton system, and industry will have access to cotton varieties offering only modest/incremental improvements in disease tolerances. Insect pest, weed and disease outbreaks remain largely unpredictable, being driven by changing ecological and climatic conditions. As a result the ability of farmers to constantly adapt their pest, weed and disease management strategies will be vital in successfully protecting their crop. In this theme, the RD&E focus is on developing strategies and practices which support farmers to address these challenges and ultimately make them more profitable.

We will achieve this by:

  • Monitoring and investigating the ecological behaviours and responses of cotton pest, weeds and diseases.
  • Testing practices that deliver improved management of insect pests, weeds and diseases.
  • Improving capacity, knowledge and adoption of techniques to successfully protect the cotton crop.

Measures of success:

Farmers are able to improve their crop management practices based on sound science.

  • 85 percent of farmers adopting improved practices that reduce the reliance on pesticide inputs.
  • 50 percent of farmers adopting improved practices that reduce the incidence of insect pests, weeds and diseases affecting cotton on their farm.
  • World class science foundations for managing ecological adaptations in cotton insect pests, weeds and diseases.


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