Concerns Raised Over Refuge Acres for GE Corn

Compliance with insect resistance management requirements remains an issue for many growers, according to a new report.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:45am

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A report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has found that one out of every four growers who plants genetically engineered (GE) corn is failing to comply with at least one important insect-resistance management requirement. The report cites statistics showing that compliance rates for refuge size and distance requirements have declined in recent years, raising concerns about the potential for insect resistance issues that could threaten all corn farmers, not just those growing biotech crops.

Why it matters

Maintaining adequate refuge acres is a critical component of insect resistance management for GE crops, helping to prevent the development of resistant pest populations. The report's findings suggest that noncompliance with these requirements could undermine the long-term effectiveness of GE corn technologies and put the broader corn industry at risk.

The details

The CSPI report analyzed compliance data from 2008, which showed that only 78% of growers planting corn-borer-protected crops met the refuge size requirement, and just 88% met the distance requirement. For rootworm-protected crops, only 74% met the refuge size requirement and 37% did not meet the distance requirement. Compliance rates were even lower for stacked hybrids, with just 72% meeting the refuge size requirement and 66% meeting the distance requirement. These rates were down significantly from the early 2000s, when compliance was often above 90%.

  • The CSPI report analyzed compliance data from 2008.
  • In 2009, more than 60% of U.S. corn acreage was planted to GE corn with Bacillus thuringiensis genes.

The players

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)

A nonprofit consumer advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. that focuses on food, nutrition, and health issues.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The U.S. federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment, including the regulation of genetically engineered crops.

Greg Jaffe

The biotechnology director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

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What they’re saying

“Given the stakes, regulators should insist on compliance rates much closer to 100% to prevent insect problems that threaten all farmers, not just those planting biotech crops.”

— Greg Jaffe, Biotechnology Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest

What’s next

The CSPI report calls on the EPA to refuse to renew registrations of GE corn varieties unless compliance rates improve, and to impose penalties on growers who do not follow the refuge requirements.

The takeaway

This report highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring grower compliance with insect resistance management practices for GE crops, which is critical to preserving the long-term effectiveness of these technologies and protecting the broader corn industry. Regulators may need to take stronger enforcement actions to drive up compliance rates and mitigate the risk of resistance development.