b'PARTNER CONTENTOne For All and All for OneT he famous phrase that Alexandre Dumas immortalized in The Three Musketeers could be applied to the Insect Resis-tance Management Program of the Argentine Seed Associa-tion (ASA).Thanks to the collaborative work of the entire corn chain in favor of one, the refuge planting, it has been possible to extend the useful life of Bt proteins.A Bit of History: The Refuge ProgramIn 1998, hand in hand with the approval of the first Bt maize, ASA was committed with the regulatory authorities to promote the care of Bt technology through planting and the correct manage-ment of the refuge. This is how the Refuge Program was born. The Program brought together experts from companies across Argen-tina that, for almost 20 years, worked together to prepare techni-cal recommendations for farmers and plan field trials to monitor target pests susceptibility. All the companies gave their clients the recommendations discussed and agreed upon in ASA. Theand, in addition to the favorable weather conditions for the pest truth is that those were different timesthere were only hybridsdevelopment (i.e., high humidity, frost absence, little crop rota-with single traits (Cry 1Ab protein) and the main pest at that timetion), the common denominator among all farmers affected was was sugarcane corn borer (Diatraea saccharalis). noncompliance of refuge. ASA quickly developed a mitigation plan with the aim of continuing to profitably produce corn in Bt Maize + Flexible Date Planting = Late Maize the area despite resistance. The execution of the plan is carried Historically, maize was planted between September and Octo- out with the collaboration of regulatory authorities, public and ber, in what we call the core zone (i.e., the center of the country).private institutions and farmers. We have gone from having 0% Doing it after that date and in other latitudes (further north) wasrefuge to close 90% compliance in the entire affected area.impossible because the pest pressure, especially fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), made it economically unfeasible. TheMRI Program: Consolidationarrival of Cry 1F protein, with efficient control of the fall army- The San Luis Case learning led us to reformulate the Refuge worm, as well as hybrids with stacked traits, achieved maizeProgram and transform it into the Insect Resistance Management expansion to other areas and Argentinas farmers began to sowProgram, incorporating the two largest producer associations in late maize, between the months of November and January. Thisthe country (CREA and AAPRESID), one monitoring association technological leap was possible first because of Bt, then because(AAPPCE) and public and private institutions. This multidisci-of breeders, who worked hard to achieve short-cycle hybrids withplinary work allows us to monitor pests and control technologies excellent quality and yield. Now, more than 95% of the maizeand train technicians and farmers about the importance of refuge planted in the country is Bt. But, with all this expansion, theplanting and other good management practices for Bt technology fundamental premise was forgotten: the care of technology andcare, measure their compliance and certify refuge planting in the refuge compliance barely exceeded 20%. Crdoba province.We are very satisfied with the results: 50% of refuge compli-First Case of Resistance: The Beginning of Collaborative Work ance, more than one million listeners reached with our radio Those yellow warning lights quickly turned to red lights duringmessages, 10,000 agronomists and farmers trained and, funda-the 2013/14 campaign when unexpected damage of the sugarcanementally, the production and sale of refuge seed in quantity and stem borer in hybrids with Cry 1F and Cry 1A.105 proteins in thequality. But that isnt all. In each agricultural campaign we go for north of the San Luis province was reported. This unexpectedmore. We are going for the goal of reaching 70% refuge compli-damage was later confirmed as resistance. The study case allowedance because when we are one for all and all for one,we can us to understand the reasons for the development of resistanceachieve it.LATAMSEEDWORLD.COM /31'