Project Number: 3625-22000-016-07
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Feb 13, 2004
End Date: Aug 31, 2008

Objective:
The purpose of this agreement is to contribute to a scientific information framework for managing insect resistance to transgenic plants by evaluating and integrating insect resistance management models. This information can provide enhanced support to the concerned public in its deliberations about the use of transgenic plants.

Approach:
Currently there are a number of different models of insecticide resistance to Bt crops. These models run the range from simple deterministic analytic models to complex stochastic simulation models. Some models incorporate space, others do not. All of the models capture important dynamics, but sorting through the complex intricacies of these models is vitally important for the management of Bt resistance. This effort will bring together modelers working in the area of insect resistance to assist stakeholders in sorting out the implications of insect resistance management (IRM) models. Furthermore, it will identify important data needs for protection of transgenic crops and will assist in the development of modeling efforts that will benefit the science of resistance management in general and Bt resistance in particular.