Insect pests, without a doubt, are one of the biggest problems faced by crops, as they are responsible, when present, for the drop in productivity in the fields. Their proliferation can raise contamination rates, depending on the cycle. In this context, the recommendation arises to insert a planting area, known as Refuge Planting, which can prevent the evolution and a future generation of resistant insects, in addition to reducing the costs of producers with insecticides. However, it is important to point out that Refuge Planting is only applied in crops with Bt technology cultivars.

Data from the Cultivar Sementes Portfolio indicate that the refuge contributes to preserving the benefits of technology, as it helps to delay the selection of resistant insects. Refuge planting is nothing more than planting a percentage of seeds (up to 20% is recommended) with Bt technology, with genes inserted into the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis that produce a protein that is toxic to the plants, making them resistant to the attack of pests, after that, other plants are inserted in the crop without the technology, so that there is a crossing between both, intending to result in a new generation of insects less resistant to the protein. Currently, Refuge Planting is one of the most attractive methods of Integrated Pest Management (MIP).

The refuge areas are determined according to the configuration of the property and the region and can be adequate from the needs of the producer. In addition, it is important to remember that handling is conducted coherently and that technical recommendations are respected. In Brazil, the most common crops for this type of strategy are soybeans, sugarcane, cotton, and corn.

 VSee the image below