Herbicide resistance management strategies: how do they compare with those for insecticides, fungicides and antibiotics?

Herbicides are the largest category of pesticides used in global agriculture, which is reflected in the rate of increase in the number of unique cases of herbicide‐resistant weed biotypes since the late 1950s. Recommended herbicide resistance management strategies and tactics have evolved over the past 50 years through cumulative research and experience and have been regularly reviewed. Nevertheless, new perspectives may be gained by viewing current recommended strategies through the lens of insecticide, fungicide, and antibiotic resistance management. What commonalities exist and what is the basis for disparate strategies? Although pesticide and antibiotic mixtures (or combinations) are generally more effective than rotations (or alternations) in mitigating or managing resistance, the latter strategy is often employed because of greater ease of implementation and other reasons. We conclude that there are more common than different strategies for mitigating or managing pesticide and antibiotic resistance. Overall, a reduction in selection pressure for resistance evolution through diverse multi‐tactic management programmes, and disruption or mitigation of the dispersal or transmission of problematic genotypes are needed to sustain the longevity of current and future mode‐of‐action products for crop and human health protection. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. In this In Focus section, we argue that what unites all these resistance management strategies far surpasses what divides them. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.