Climate change poses one of the most significant challenges to pest management and agricultural production Australian farmers and horticultural growers have faced.
And 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.
Best-practice product stewardship of the plant science industry’s modern chemistry and innovative tools is critical to successful long-term integrated pest management (IPM) plans.
Achieving safe and responsible use of pesticides across the entire value chain requires continued investment and innovation from the plant science industry, which has a demonstrable track of its ongoing commitment to whole-of-lifecycle product-stewardship.
Every year, CropLife’s Resistance Management Strategies are reviewed and updated by its expert scientific technical review committee, in consultation with relevant national and international experts to deal with the changing status of Australian-specific pests, weeds and disease.
The 2024‑25 strategies for fungicides, herbicides and insecticides have now been released and are freely available online.
By having the tools and support to manage the constant threat of pests, weeds and diseases to Australia’s agricultural productivity, farmers and growers can continue to increase crop yield and quality in changing climatic conditions.
It also ensures important crop protection products remain viable and effective tools into the future.
Without proper planning and management for best-practice product application, pests, weeds, and disease can develop resistance.
Resistance leads to reduced effectiveness of fungicides, herbicide and insecticides and significant economic losses for farmers and growers due to reduced crop yields and the increased cost of effectively controlling resistant pests, weeds and disease.
Retailers and agronomists play a vital role in advocating and reinforcing best practices, and reminding end users to review their pest management plans annually against updated strategies.
Importantly, these strategies complement but do not replace label requirements and product users must always adhere to label instructions.
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.
The 2024-25 Resistance Management Strategies can be accessed and downloaded from StewardshipFirst.com.au
