Global population growth has increased the demand for food production and, therefore, for higher crop yields, especially for soybean, which is one of the most cost-effective and affordable sources of high-quality protein for animal and human nutrition. This frequently leads to an overuse of traditional chemical insecticides to maximize yields, thereby triggering negative side effects. However, both consumers and governments around the world demand a reduction in chemical insecticides in agriculture. To address this challenge, pest control must be guided by proper adoption of economic thresholds (ETs), which indicate the most appropriate time to initiate control in the crop. Despite the well-documented science behind ETs, farmers have questioned the adoption and reliability in a search for higher production, highlighting the importance of reviewing this topic. Thus, based on the available literature, the role of ETs in optimizing insecticide application in soybean production around the world is herein discussed, highlighting the importance of their adoption to mitigate the overuse of chemicals by emphasizing examples from the major world soybean producers (Brazil, the United States of America, Argentina, and China). In conclusion, this review highlights the importance of changing farmers’ perception that using more insecticide is necessary to guarantee higher yields. On the contrary, only by the adoption of ETs within Integrated Pest Management is it possible to obtain better pest management and, consequently, reduce yield loss. Despite some limitations related to their simplicity and risks of adoption, the use of ETs improves soybean sustainability and farmers’ profits while benefiting the agroecosystem. For future directions, their complexity should increase to more realistically represent agroecosystems; in addition, tools should be developed (computer programs and smartphone apps using, for instance, artificial intelligence) to translate this complexity into easy-to-adopt ETs.

The crop system of soybean–maize succession has been adopted widely in the Neotropics. It inadvertently provides continuous food resources (green bridges) to stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), favoring outbreaks. Thus, stink bugs need to be managed within a broader and more holistic perspective. Not just individual fields but the whole landscape should be monitored and managed, since these pest outbreaks are deeply influenced by neighboring fields and successive crops in the same field. During the first crop season, stink bugs should be controlled only in the reproductive stage of soybean (from the R3 to R6 plant development stage), when the population is equal to or higher than the economic threshold (ET) of two stink bugs·m⁻¹. Biological control or plant resistance strategies should be used instead of chemicals whenever possible. When the ET is reached at R7 or R8, more tolerant maize varieties (fast growing) should be sown in the second crop season with the seed treatment using recommended insecticides. Grain losses during harvest and the presence of weeds must be avoided at the end of the soybean season. Chemical insecticide sprayings on maize might still be necessary if Diceraeus spp. outbreaks equal or surpass three stink bugs·m⁻¹ during early maize stages (until V7). This more precise and less impactful management of the agroecosystem will promote a more sustainable and resilient management of these polyphagous pests.

The crop system of soybean (summer)—maize or other cereals (fall/winter) succession has been adopted widely in the Neotropics. It inadvertently provides food in sequence to stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), forming green bridges, which favor their outbreaks. Attempts to control these outbreaks, usually consists of chemical control on isolated crop scenarios. Analyzing the literature available, it is possible to conclude that stink bugs must be managed having a broader and more holistic perspective, taking the whole landscape into consideration, rather than the usual individualized perspective. Multidisciplinary recommendations should include insect pests plus weed and disease controls, crop harvest, sowed cultivars or varieties, and neighboring vegetation (cultivated or native) for effective stink bug management. In conclusion, during the first crop season, stink bugs should be controlled only in the reproductive stage of soybean (from R3 to R6 plant development stage), when population is equal or higher than ET (2 stink bugs.m⁻¹). Biologicals should be used instead of chemicals whenever possible. When ET is surpassed at R7 or R8, more tolerant maize varieties (fast growing) should be sowed in the second crop season with the adoption of seed treatment. Always, grain losses during harvest and the presence of weeds must be avoided at the end of soybean season. Additionally, chemical insecticides sprayings on maize might still be necessary if Diceraeuss spp. outbreaks equal or surpass three insects.m⁻¹ during maize early stages. This more precise and less impactful management of the agroecosystem will promote more sustainable and resilient management of these polyphagous pests.

Global population growth underscores the increasing demands for food production, and therefore, for higher crop yields, especially in soybean, as the cheapest source of protein for animal and human nutrition. This scenario frequently leads to overuse of traditional chemical insecticides to maximize yields, thereby triggering adverse side effects. However, both consumers and governments around the world have been demanding reduction of chemical insecticides in agriculture. To address this challenge, pest control must be guided by proper adoption of economic thresholds (ETs), which indicate the most appropriate time to initiate insecticide applications. Despite the well-documented science behind ETs, not only its adoption but also its reliability has been questioned by farmers in a search for higher production, highlighting the importance of reviewing this topic. Thus, this review discusses, based on the available literature, the role of ETs to optimize insecticide application in soybean production, highlining the importance of their adoption to mitigate the overuse of chemicals. In Brazil, the major soybean producer in the world, not only did growers who adopted ETs to control pests in soybean reduce the amount of pesticides required, but also production costs associated with pest control, while achieving greater yields than conventional producers. The use of ETs improves soybean sustainability and farmers profit while benefitting the agroecosystem.