Pesticide treadmill refers to :

The 'pesticide treadmill' describes a cycle where agricultural systems become trapped in a dependency on increasing chemical applications. Initially, pesticides effectively reduce pest populations, but a small number of individuals with natural genetic variations survive. These survivors reproduce, leading to a heritable change in sensitivity within the population, known as pesticide resistance. As the standard dosage becomes less effective, growers typically respond by applying pesticides more frequently, at higher doses, or by switching to more potent chemicals. This escalation is driven by the need to maintain control over target pests and prevent resurgences that occur when natural predators are also eliminated by the chemicals. Consequently, the treadmill represents a self-reinforcing loop of escalating pesticide use and diminishing returns, necessitating stronger interventions to achieve the same level of crop protection.