Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation

Following two decades of increasing investments, growth in public agricultural research spending (adjusted for inflation) largely stagnated in Sub-Saharan Africa during the 1980s and 1990s, at an average rate of about 1 percent per year. This continentwide trend masks significant variation among cou...

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Main Authors: Beintema, Nienke M., Stads, Gert-Jan
Format: Informe técnico
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160348
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author Beintema, Nienke M.
Stads, Gert-Jan
author_browse Beintema, Nienke M.
Stads, Gert-Jan
author_facet Beintema, Nienke M.
Stads, Gert-Jan
author_sort Beintema, Nienke M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Following two decades of increasing investments, growth in public agricultural research spending (adjusted for inflation) largely stagnated in Sub-Saharan Africa during the 1980s and 1990s, at an average rate of about 1 percent per year. This continentwide trend masks significant variation among countries. During 1991–2000, about half the countries in our 27-country sample experienced a contraction in total agricultural research and development (R&D) spending. Declines often occurred during periods of political unrest or following the completion of large donor-funded projects. The majority of African agricultural research is still conducted by the public sector. The declining growth in public agricultural R&D investments has not been justified by the growing needs of the agricultural sector, nor counteracted by growth in investments by alternative suppliers, such as the private sector or international research centers. In addition, with its current investment patterns, Africa will probably miss out on most of the biotechnology advances that are being made in other regions in the world. Institutional reforms may have improved efficiency in a number of countries, but without a corresponding increase in financial support, such gains will be insufficient to turn the trends around. The funding base for African R&D urgently needs to be restored, with increased commitments from both governments and donors. This should go hand-in-hand with the pursuit of innovative funding mechanisms.
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spelling CGSpace1603482025-01-10T06:46:06Z Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation Beintema, Nienke M. Stads, Gert-Jan agricultural policies agricultural research finance economic aspects research and development private sector public sector biotechnology biosafety Following two decades of increasing investments, growth in public agricultural research spending (adjusted for inflation) largely stagnated in Sub-Saharan Africa during the 1980s and 1990s, at an average rate of about 1 percent per year. This continentwide trend masks significant variation among countries. During 1991–2000, about half the countries in our 27-country sample experienced a contraction in total agricultural research and development (R&D) spending. Declines often occurred during periods of political unrest or following the completion of large donor-funded projects. The majority of African agricultural research is still conducted by the public sector. The declining growth in public agricultural R&D investments has not been justified by the growing needs of the agricultural sector, nor counteracted by growth in investments by alternative suppliers, such as the private sector or international research centers. In addition, with its current investment patterns, Africa will probably miss out on most of the biotechnology advances that are being made in other regions in the world. Institutional reforms may have improved efficiency in a number of countries, but without a corresponding increase in financial support, such gains will be insufficient to turn the trends around. The funding base for African R&D urgently needs to be restored, with increased commitments from both governments and donors. This should go hand-in-hand with the pursuit of innovative funding mechanisms. 2006 2024-11-21T09:50:33Z 2024-11-21T09:50:33Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160348 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Beintema, Nienke M.; Stads, Gert-Jan. Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160348
spellingShingle agricultural policies
agricultural research
finance
economic aspects
research and development
private sector
public sector
biotechnology
biosafety
Beintema, Nienke M.
Stads, Gert-Jan
Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation
title Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation
title_full Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation
title_fullStr Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation
title_full_unstemmed Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation
title_short Agricultural R&D in Sub-Saharan Africa: An era of stagnation
title_sort agricultural r d in sub saharan africa an era of stagnation
topic agricultural policies
agricultural research
finance
economic aspects
research and development
private sector
public sector
biotechnology
biosafety
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160348
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