A Comprehensive Overview of Investments and Human Resource Capacity in African Agricultural Research

Increased use of (relatively abundant) land, rather than improved technical efficiency, has been the main driver of agricultural production growth in Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) over the past five decades. However, rapid population growth and the adverse effects of climate change are increasingly putting pressure on land availability, land fertility, and water access. Given the well-documented positive impact of agricultural research investment on agricultural productivity growth, it is critical that African countries step up their investment in agricultural research and instate sound policies to promote technological and institutional innovations in the agricultural sector.This report assesses trends in investments, human resource capacity, and outputs in agricultural research in SSA. It highlights the cross-cutting trends and challenges that emerged from ASTI's country-level data, structuring it within four broad areas: funding capacity, human resource capacity, research outputs, and institutional conditions.Key findings of the report include:Agricultural research spending in SSA grew by nearly 50 percent between 2000 and 2014. However, underinvestment remains widespread, with 33 out of 40 countries for which data were available spending less than 1.0 percent of their AgGDP on agricultural research.Across SSA, agricultural researcher numbers increased by 70 percent during 2000–2014. However, a very large share of senior PhD-qualified researchers are approaching retirement. Without adequate succession strategies and training, significant knowledge gaps will emerge.Female scientists remain grossly underrepresented in agricultural research, despite the fact that they are in a unique position to effectively address the pressing challenges facing African farmers, the majority of whom are female.Donor dependency and funding volatility remain critical in a large number of African countries.Outdated research facilities and equipment are impeding the conduct of productive research, which compromises the number and quality of research outputs and ultimately translates into reduced impact.The report concludes by outlining a number of policy measures that SSA governments can undertake to address the various challenges related to agricultural research funding, human capacity, outputs, infrastructure, and institutional structure

Agricultural R&D capacity and investments in the Asia–Pacific region:

"Science and technology (S&T) are major contributors to food security, poverty reduction, and economic growth, as has been proven in Asia since the early-1970s through the Green Revolution in agriculture. Continuing to secure such gains, however, is becoming an increasingly complex undertaking. More than ever, quantitative data are vital for measuring, monitoring, and benchmarking the performance of agricultural S&T systems, including their inputs and outcomes. This brief reviews major institutional developments and investment and human resource trends in agricultural research and development (R&D) in 11 countries of the Asia–Pacific region. The brief draws on a set of country briefs, reports, and underlying datasets developed by the Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) initiative. ASTI worked with regional partners to collect detailed quantitative and qualitative information on research capacity and investment trends within agricultural R&D agencies. These data were then linked with investment and human resource data from the Chinese government and other secondary sources to provide a broader regional and global context." from textAgricultural research, Agricultural development, Research and development, Capacity, Investments,

Investing in Sub-Saharan African agricultural research

"Agricultural research capacity is an important factor in building food security and economic stability in Africa. Furthermore, new and better-targeted technologies are essential to this process, and a well-developed and wellsupported agricultural research system is a prerequisite not only for the design of these technologies but also for their dissemination and adoption...In view of the low, and often declining, level of agricultural R&D investments in SSA, both in real terms and as a ratio of agricultural output, attaining this goal will be extremely challenging." from Textresearch funding ,

Research for the future: Investments for efficiency, sustainability, and equity

Source Publication: 2022 Global Food Policy Report: Climate Change and Food Systems. Chapter 4, Pp. 38-47Food systems everywhere are facing major new challenges. Shocks caused by COVID-19 have currently seized our attention, but the pandemic has also accentuated persistent problems of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, population growth, and pressure on natural resources, notably land, water, and biodiversity. Adding to these challenges, climate change poses a serious threat to food security and livelihoods as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to rise. Changing temperatures, highly variable precipitation, shifting growing seasons, and extreme weather events are already making agricultural yields and prices more volatile, with rural areas across the world feeling the effects most profoundly. Yet, as the world’s population moves toward 9 or 10 billion by 2050, unprecedented increases in global food production — of at least 60 percent over 2005–2007 levels — will be needed to meet growing demand

Public Agricultural Research in Latin America and the Caribbean: Investment and Capacity Trends

This report reviews major institutional developments and investment and human resource trends in public agricultural R&D in LAC from 1981 to 2006, drawing from a set of country briefs and a regional report for Central America prepared by the Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) initiative using comprehensive ASTI datasets derived from primary surveys for a 15-country sample conducted during 2007-08. These datasets have been linked with investment and human resources data collected in the region during the late 1990s, as well as with ASTI's global datasets, to provide a wider context for agricultural R&D investment trends over time and across other regions

Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa

Agricultural research and development (R&D) investment is positively associated with high returns, but these returns take time—often decades—to develop. Consequently, the inherent lag from the inception of research to the adoption of new technologies calls for sustained and stable R&D funding. In 2016, Africa invested just 0.39 percent of its agricultural GDP (AgGDP) in agricultural R&D, down from 0.54 percent in 2000. Even though in absolute terms total R&D investment has increased since the turn of the millennium—after a period of stagnation—most of the funds have been directed toward research staff expansion, salary increases, and rehabilitation of derelict research infrastructure and equipment, rather than actual research programs. In fact, in a large number of African countries, the national government funds the salaries of researchers and support staff, but little else, leaving nonsalary-related expenses highly dependent on donors and other funding sources.Non-PRIFPRI1; ASTI; CRP2EPTD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM

Lebanon: Agricultural R&D Indicators Factsheet [in Arabic]

Non-PRIFPRI2; ASTI; CRP2EPTD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM

Panama: Agricultural R&D indicators factsheet [in Spanish]

Panama’s agricultural research spending has gradually increased during 2004–2020, at an average rate of 2.6 percent per year. Expenditure levels peaked in 2017, but they have remained relatively high since. The 2017 peak can to a large extent be explained by the construction and equipment of IDIAP’s new headquarters. Panama outperforms many of its Central American counterparts in a number of key agricultural R&D indicators. Compared to many of its neighbors, Panama invests a considerably higher proportion of its agricultural output in agricultural research; it employs a relatively high number of scientists with PhD degrees; and it generates an aboveaverage flow of research outputs in the form of publications, new crop varieties, and new agricultural technologies. A very large proportion of Panama’s PhD-qualified agricultural researchers is approaching retirement age, posing a significant problem for the future conduct and continuity of agricultural research. The country will need to recruit and train scientists without delay, and provide the necessary remuneration, working conditions, and incentives to maintain their commitment over time.Non-PRIFPRI2; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; G Cross-cutting gender themeEPT

Bolivia: Agricultural R&D indicators factsheet

Bolivia’s agricultural R&D spending is characterized by considerable year-toyear fluctuations. The costs of R&D programs, running the day-to-day operations of laboratories, and muchneeded capital investments are chiefly funded by donors and development banks. Dependence on this type of funding—which by nature is volatile and ad hoc—makes the country somewhat vulnerable to funding shocks. Bolivia’s agricultural research spending has not kept pace with growth in agricultural output. The country’s agricultural research intensity ratio—that is agricultural research spending as a percentage of agricultural GDP—halved from 1.0 to 0.5 percent during 2015–2020. Bolivia’s agricultural research investment is too low to effectively address farm productivity challenges of the rural poor and threats posed by climate change. Compared with most countries in South America, Bolivian agricultural R&D agencies employ relatively few researchers with PhD degrees. In addition, a considerable portion of the most highly qualified researchers are set to retire in the coming decade. The country will need to recruit and train the next generation of agricultural researchers without delay and provide the necessary conditions to maintain their commitment over time.Non-PRIFPRI2; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; G Cross-cutting gender themeEPT

Le Programme de Productivité Agricole en Afrique de L’Ouest

Le PPAAO appuie la création, la diffusion et l’adoption de technologies améliorées, l’instauration de conditions propices à la coopération régionale et le développement des capacités humaines et institutionnelles à travers la sous-région, ainsi que la création d’emplois pour les jeunes, la participation des femmes et l’adaptation aux changements climatiques.Non-PRIFPRI1; ASTI; C Improving markets and trade; CRP2EPTD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM