The development of insect resistance to chemicals has cut across the lines of practically all classes of compounds, and has included arsenicals, cyanide, tartar emetic, and lime sulfur as well as the newer chlorinated hydrocarbon and organic phosphate insecticides. The chemical industry, therefore, has a broad interest in this problem.

The economic basis of pesticide research is examined both from the standpoint of the chemical industry and the agricultural industry and an attempt is made to relate research expenditures to market values. The allocation of research support to insect control problems and the possibilities of increased support for basic research are considered.

The direction of future research in the chemical industry will probably continue along the lines of synthesis and development of new patentable compounds with special efforts directed toward new active chemical groupings. Under the stimulus of such problems as the subject of this symposium, research in tax-supported institutions will probably tend toward greater emphasis on basic biological research in such fields as insect physiology, biochemistry, genetics, and ecology.

The direction of chemical control of insects will undoubtedly tend toward more and more specific methods and treatments. There may even now be chemical tools available to handle specific problems, but the markets may be too limited to allow the economic expenditure of the sums required for clearance for use. Specific narrow spectrum chemicals may require development support from tax-supported institutions for the solution to insect control problems on small-acreage specialty crops. Future successful research will require both coordination and understanding between industry and tax-supported institutions.