Insecticide resistance in Australian field crops: trends, drivers and opportunities for change

Australia is a diverse agricultural landscape of varying spatial scales and types of farming operations. Primary producers face significant challenges, including a highly variable climate and volatile commodity markets, which generate a substantial degree of uncertainty in the farming economy compared with many other countries (Keogh 2012). Australian agriculture is largely unsubsidised, with government support limited to certain circumstances such as disaster relief. Many farming businesses also operate on narrow profit margins, which increases the level of production and market risk. Nevertheless, innovations in farming practices have seen many industries continue to expand. The grains industry, for example, has experienced consistent growth, with productivity increasing at an annual rate of 7.7% over the past 20 years (ABARES 2024).