Agriculture production has relied heavily on use of chemical formulations to control most pests and pathogens, at times to the detriment of human health and/or the environment. Climate and weather changes are predicted to increase the frequency and severity of infestation and disease by pests and pathogens in crops, with concomitant increase in chemical control measures. Sustainable practices that better integrate management practices, deploying genes for resistance, and reduce chemical measures are badly needed. Challenges to applying genetic strategies include identifying and deploying dominant single genes, or complexes of genes, that confer high levels of resistance and withstand changes in pathogens. Remarkable advances in genetics of disease resistance, and creating genetic resistance through genetic transfer control could, if approved by regulatory agencies and adopted by consumers, significantly reduce the use of agriculture chemicals in agriculture. Choosing between chemical vs genetic controls should not be the issue: rather, sustainability should be the goal.

Sustainability in agriculture requires building genetic strategies that reduce reliance on chemicals to manage production

248th National Meeting (2014)

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