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Food security in developing countries like Ethiopia has been a challenge for many years due to pre and post-harvest losses of agricultural products which are caused by different biotic and abiotic factors. Grain losses from pest infestation prior to harvest and during storage are a serious problem, particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia. More than 70% insect pests have been identified; they attack stored grains among which beetles and moths are the most important. The overall quantitative and qualitative damages caused by these insect pests are estimated at 30 to 40% annually. To minimize these damages, development of less susceptible germplasms, cultivars and varieties which are an eco-friendly and economically feasible management options has been encouraged by many scholars since the development of modern breeding technologies. Thus, resistant varieties can have a tremendous impact on sustainable crop production to ensure future food security. This paper provides a comprehensive literature review of varietal screening research for field and storage pests associated with the major food and export crops with particular emphasis on Ethiopia. Key words: Insect, screening, biotic stress, breeding, grain pests.