Future Changes in Insecticide Use in Potatoes

In 2023, researchers at Michigan State and five other U.S. universities received USDA funding to respond to a key crisis threatening potato production in the U.S. regarding insect management. The U.S. potato industry commonly uses neonicotinoid insecticides to target insect pests, but this group of pesticides is under scrutiny by food/nursery retailers and regulators. As the continued use of neonicotinoids is in jeopardy, the potato industry needs robust and enduring alternatives that are sustainable and address consumer concerns; these alternatives will need to rely on biological, ecological, and environmental information. This keynote will provide an update on the strategies our team is working on.