Wicked evolution: Can we address the sociobiological dilemma of pesticide resistance?

Abstract

Resistance to insecticides and herbicides has cost billions of U.S. dollars in the agricultural sector and could result in millions of lives lost to insect-vectored diseases. We mostly continue to use pesticides as if resistance is a temporary issue that will be addressed by commercialization of new pesticides with novel modes of action. However, current evidence suggests that insect and weed evolution may outstrip our ability to replace outmoded chemicals and other control mechanisms. To avoid this outcome, we must address the mix of ecological, genetic, economic, and sociopolitical factors that prevent implementation of sustainable pest management practices. We offer an ambitious proposition.

Changes in the Peripheral Chemosensory System Drive Adaptive Shifts in Food Preferences in Insects

“…Anthropogenic selection, on the other hand, can impose much stronger evolutionary pressures over a shorter timeframe, often on genetically closed populations, leading to the rapid evolution of adaptive responses. Quintessential examples are the rapid evolution of resistance to antibiotics in medically important pathogens and to pesticides in agricultural pests, in response to human-imposed strong selection pressures (e.g., Gould et al, 2018). …”

Escalating insecticide resistance in Australian grain pests: contributing factors, industry trends and management opportunities

“…While knowledge and economic factors are undoubtedly important and well publicized, social factors play a profound and often discrete role in farmer decisions regarding pest management decisions . This social dimension is not well understood in the Australian grain industry and is also an issue elsewhere . A long‐term, structured and tailored plan is required to facilitate and evaluate practice change.…”

The impact and prospect of natural product discovery in agriculture

“…Nonetheless, new products are constantly needed: It is estimated that up to 50% of global crop yields are lost each year mainly due to pesticide resistance . Hence, there is a continuous demand to discover new insecticides, fungicides and herbicides with novel modes of action, accompanied by efforts to decrease their production cost.…”

“…There are many other NPs with unique modes of actions that have not been commercialized owing to the high cost of mass production. For example, potential herbicides thaxtomin and tentoxin are able to disrupt cellulose biosynthesis and energy transfer, respectively; cornexistin possesses broad-spectrum herbicidal activity via inactivation of aminotransferases but only low activity against maize (Fig 1) Nonetheless, new products are constantly needed: It is estimated that up to 50% of global crop yields are lost each year mainly due to pesticide resistance [2]. Hence, there is a continuous demand to discover new insecticides, fungicides and herbicides with novel modes of action, accompanied by efforts to decrease their production cost.…”