Updated pesticide resistance strategies boost climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land management practices

    26 June 2024

    CropLife Australia’s Resistance Management Strategies for fungicides, herbicides and insecticides have been updated and provide comprehensive and science-based approaches to manage pests, weeds and disease on Australian farms and in our natural landscapes. The official 2024-25 strategies have been updated and result from extensive collaboration between expert scientific technical review committees, industry stakeholders and local and international experts and are now available online.

    Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, the national peak industry organisation for the plant science sector, Mr Matthew Cossey said, “By investing in these strategies, CropLife and its members support farmers and environmental land managers with access to the most up to date and science-based solutions.

    “Climate change poses one of the most significant challenges to pest management and agricultural production that farmers have faced. These challenges will only intensify in the coming decades. Shifting temperatures and weather patterns are not only leading to an increase in biotic threats but also the emergence of new ones.

    “Access to the plant science industry’s modern chemistry and innovative tools alongside best-practice stewardship of these tools is critical to implementing a successful Integrated Pest Management plan particularly in the face of climate change and for Australian-specific conditions.

    “By having the tools and support to manage the constant threat of pests, weeds and diseases in our natural shared spaces, farmers can continue to increase crop yield and quality in changing climatic conditions.

    “Importantly, these strategies complement but do not replace label requirements and product users must always adhere to label instructions.

    Mr Cossey concluded, “CropLife and its members take product stewardship seriously and are committed to a whole-of-lifecycle approach by contributing millions of dollars each year to activities to support the safe and sustainable use of the plant science industry’s products. By equipping product users with the tools and information to adequately plan ahead, CropLife’s Resistance Management Strategies assist farmers, agronomists and environmental land managers to ensure that important crop protection products remain viable and effective tools into the future.”

    The annually updated Resistance Management Strategies are part of CropLife’s StewardshipFirst initiative, offering free resources and programs to support best-practice product use. In addition to these strategies, other resources address spray drift mitigation, pollinator health, and the responsible recycling and disposal of products and packaging.

    This year also marks the final year of transition for the herbicide Mode of Action classification alignment, where Australia’s previous alphabetical codes have been updated to align with the international numerical code system. The numerical classification system should be fully implemented by the end of 2024.

    View the latest CropLife Resistance Management online.

    View the Herbicide Mode of Action (MoA) Resources online.

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