Summary
This narrative review synthesises global evidence on soybean-integrated pest management, with particular focus on Brazilian adoption patterns. It documents that IPM adopters achieved approximately 50% reduction in insecticide use whilst maintaining comparable or slightly higher yields than non-adopters, though notes emerging pest resistance to Bt traits due to low refuge compliance. The review advocates for holistic IPM combining plant resistance, economic thresholds, scouting, selective insecticides, and biological control as the most sustainable approach to protect yield whilst reducing environmental burden.
Regional applicability
The paper focuses primarily on Brazilian soybean systems, which differ substantially from United Kingdom conditions in scale, climate, and pest pressures. However, the IPM principles—economic thresholds, biological control integration, and resistance management—are broadly applicable to UK arable cropping. The resistance management challenges and refuge compliance issues identified would be relevant to any region adopting Bt varieties, though the specific pest species and regional ecology differ.
Key measures
Insecticide use reduction (approximately 50% in adopters vs non-adopters); crop yields; resistance development to Cry1Ac; economic thresholds; CO2-equivalent emissions from pesticide application
Outcomes reported
The study reviewed integrated pest management (IPM) implementation in soybean farming, documenting insecticide use reduction, yield impacts, and emerging resistance challenges. It assessed the role of biological control, economic thresholds, and biotechnology in sustainable soybean pest management.
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