Bt Brinjal The scope and adequacy of the GEAC environmental risk assessment

46 Bt Brinjal: The GEAC environmental risk assessmentbaseline susceptibility can be established.2) Prioritise resistance management tactics. Evaluate alternative IRM tactics using mathematical models. The mathematicalmodel underlying Figure 2 should be elaborated to assess the efficacy of all possible IRM tactics so that an appropriate strategycan be developed.3) Determine scale of monitoring. Determine appropriate spatial scale for monitoring. This should be established throughthe ecology of BFSB, by examining the spatial correlation in population dynamics, spatial clustering of brinjal productionareas, and average movement of adult BFSB. This should not be based on deme size estimates using F-statistics or analogousapproaches. These experiments do not require the use of Bt brinjal.4) Find resistance. Discover resistance alleles in BFSB. This can be done through the pedigreed F 1screen, mass selection inthe laboratory on field-collected populations of BFSB, and other methods. Once a resistant colony of BFSB is established, it isessential to estimate key genetic parameters, including heterozygosity, cross-resistance, and cost of resistance. Bt brinjal must beused in this work, however, it can be grown in a greenhouse.5) Parameter estimation. Estimate biological parameters relevant to resistance evolution. These include plant-to-plantmovement of larvae, movement of male and female adults, density-dependent larval mortality, and average fecundity. All ofthese experiments can be conducted without using Bt brinjal, and will be useful for developing other IPM tactics to controlBFSB.6) Farmer acceptance of tactics. Determine if brinjal farmers are willing to plant a non-Bt refuge on their farms. Thiscan only be determined using stated preference (SP) descriptive surveys or experiments. An experimental approach would bepreferred. Results from SP observations and experiments typically overestimate farmers’ willingness to plant refuges, so theseresults should be interpreted as the most optimistic use of refuges possible.7) Monitor compliance. Because of the uncertainty in SP observations and experiments, physical surveys of farmers usingBt brinjal should be conducted, mapping the planting of Bt brinjal and refuges by sampling plants and testing them with lateralflow sticks. Farmers’ statements about refuge use are often too unreliable.