The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required an unprecedented insect resistance management (IRM) program for Bt plant-incorporated protectants. IRM requirements for Bt field corn products include a 20% non-Bt corn refuge in the Corn Belt and a 50% non-Bt corn refuge in cotton-growing areas to be planted within ½ mile (1/4 mile or closer preferred) of the Bt corn. In-field refuges consisting of strips of at least four rows are also allowed. There are two field corn events expressing Cry1Ab (Bt11 and MON 810) and one event expressing Cry1F (TC 1507). IRM requirements for Bt cotton expressing Cry1Ac include three refuge options and a pilot community refuge program. The three refuge options are: 1) an external 20% non-Bt cotton refuge planted within 1 mile (preferably ½ mile) of the Bt cotton fields, 2) an external 5% non-Bt cotton refuge that must be at least 150 feet wide (preferably 300 feet wide) planted within ½ mile (preferably adjacent to or within 1/4 mile) of the Bt cotton fields, and 3) a 5% embedded non-Bt cotton refuge that must be at least 150 feet wide (preferably 300 feet wide) within a single Bt cotton field or planted as part of a one-mile squared "field unit" containing both Bt and non-Bt cotton fields. There are also requirements for annual resistance monitoring, remedial action plan, grower education, grower compliance, research, and annual reporting.
Keywords: resistance management, Bt
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