Key factors limiting sustainable insect pest management in soybeans EarthEmpower Consulting and Investment, Mexico

If sustainability implies the preservation of resources for future generations, then pest management tools, like insecticides and insect-resistant varieties, can be considered resources that should be preserved for future generations. Overuse of these tools can result in resistance such that their ability to prevent yield loss is lost. Replacements can be found in the form of new active ingredients or novel plant traits. However there is growing evidence that as resistance to a single toxin increases, the rate of resistance developing for other toxins increases due to cross-resistance (Whalan et al. 2008). Furthermore, the use of insecticides within areas of intense agricultural activity affects the delivery of ecosystem services like pollination (Kremen et al. 2002) when non-target insects like bees are also killed. In an effort to reduce such non-target impacts, entomologists have developed an approach referred to as integrated pest management {IPM) to minimize insecticide use (Stern et al. 1959). Much of the theory for applying IPM principles was developed with regard to soybean production (e.g. Stone and Pedigo 1972). In this chapter, we will explore whether IPM can lead to sustainable pest management for soybeans