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 20...

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Main Authors: Stads, Gert-Jan, Nin-Pratt, Alejandro, Beintema, Nienke M.
Format: Informe técnico
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144205
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author Stads, Gert-Jan
Nin-Pratt, Alejandro
Beintema, Nienke M.
author_browse Beintema, Nienke M.
Nin-Pratt, Alejandro
Stads, Gert-Jan
author_facet Stads, Gert-Jan
Nin-Pratt, Alejandro
Beintema, Nienke M.
author_sort Stads, Gert-Jan
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description 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.
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spelling CGSpace1442052025-01-10T06:30:33Z Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa Stads, Gert-Jan Nin-Pratt, Alejandro Beintema, Nienke M. agricultural research expenditure innovation 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. 2021-06-01 2024-05-31T15:39:14Z 2024-05-31T15:39:14Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144205 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Stads, Gert-Jan; Nin-Pratt, Alejandro; and Beintema, Nienke M. 2021. Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144205
spellingShingle agricultural research
expenditure
innovation
Stads, Gert-Jan
Nin-Pratt, Alejandro
Beintema, Nienke M.
Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa
title Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa
title_full Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa
title_fullStr Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa
title_full_unstemmed Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa
title_short Building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in Africa
title_sort building a case for increased investment in agricultural research in africa
topic agricultural research
expenditure
innovation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/144205
work_keys_str_mv AT stadsgertjan buildingacaseforincreasedinvestmentinagriculturalresearchinafrica
AT ninprattalejandro buildingacaseforincreasedinvestmentinagriculturalresearchinafrica
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