The reliance of the Australian cotton industry on insecticides for the control of insect pests represents a major economic and environmental concern. In the face of pesticide resistance in H. armigera and increasing environmental problems associated with pesticide use, the development of cotton varieties with enhanced resistance to pests, particularly Heliothis and mites, is a major objective of CSIRO to help lessen dependence of the industry on chemical pesticides. Both conventional breeding and genetic engineering are being used to produce pest resistant cottons. Here we discuss work to compare the levels of pest resistance in a variety of cotton cultivars which bear either morphological, or biochemical factors for resistance and to identify characteristics which may be valuable for incorporation in the highly successful breeding program at Narrabri