Purpose of review: This review aims at describing the methods actually used and highlights the recent changes in the practice of insect population monitoring in bulk-stored grain in European countries. New approaches on grain insect pest monitoring that renew the concept of grain integrated pest management are described. Findings: The absence of infestation is of major importance in grain marketing. Grain samples are subjected to systematic examination for detection of live insects at a market point. The sampling and sieving grain samples collected with mechanical devices is a standard method commonly used to detect or estimate live insect numbers in domestic and international trade. During the last decade novel methods have been developed for insect detection and monitoring in grain. These include electronic and acoustic probes suitable for large grain bulks. The goal is to forecast infestation risks and reduce use of grain treatments with chemicals or fumigants. The use of these new tools is in full compliance with EU regulations and requirements for food hygiene and safety. The data from the monitoring of insects and grain condition may be combined in a decision support system knowledge base for predicting the safe storage period. Directions for future research: Predictive models of insect rate of increase from probe trap data and thermal-hygrometry data at critical locations of a grain bulk should be useful in decision support systems for predicting safe storage time period, and also offer relevant advice to grain managers to optimise insect management efficiency.