Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach

This study offers a “best evidence” approach to summarizing recent benefit‐cost analyses of international agricultural research in Africa. First, from an extensive literature review and the resulting global inventory of impact studies, 23 studies are identified that calculate aggregate rates of retu...

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Autores principales: Maredia, Mywish K., Raitzer, David Anthony
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2010
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/166082
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author Maredia, Mywish K.
Raitzer, David Anthony
author_browse Maredia, Mywish K.
Raitzer, David Anthony
author_facet Maredia, Mywish K.
Raitzer, David Anthony
author_sort Maredia, Mywish K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This study offers a “best evidence” approach to summarizing recent benefit‐cost analyses of international agricultural research in Africa. First, from an extensive literature review and the resulting global inventory of impact studies, 23 studies are identified that calculate aggregate rates of return for Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and partner investments in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). These studies are then appraised against a review framework consisting of principles, criteria, and indicators for study rigor. Subsequently, the economic benefits reported by studies grouped on the basis of its analytical rigor are aggregated and set against total investment by the CGIAR and national agricultural research systems to determine if the total investment to date can be justified by documented benefits under a range of assumptions. As a result, the study finds that aggregate investment is justified under a fairly wide range of suppositions. Under all scenarios, the vast majority of documented benefits stem from a relatively limited array of activities with a majority of benefits stemming from biological control (80%). Close to 20% of total benefits result from crop genetic improvement, and less than 1% result from all other activities. The implications of these results for research investment strategies in SSA and impact assessment are discussed.
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spelling CGSpace1660822024-12-19T14:13:49Z Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach Maredia, Mywish K. Raitzer, David Anthony agricultural research biological control cgiar cost benefit analysis plant breeding profitability research research support africa This study offers a “best evidence” approach to summarizing recent benefit‐cost analyses of international agricultural research in Africa. First, from an extensive literature review and the resulting global inventory of impact studies, 23 studies are identified that calculate aggregate rates of return for Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and partner investments in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). These studies are then appraised against a review framework consisting of principles, criteria, and indicators for study rigor. Subsequently, the economic benefits reported by studies grouped on the basis of its analytical rigor are aggregated and set against total investment by the CGIAR and national agricultural research systems to determine if the total investment to date can be justified by documented benefits under a range of assumptions. As a result, the study finds that aggregate investment is justified under a fairly wide range of suppositions. Under all scenarios, the vast majority of documented benefits stem from a relatively limited array of activities with a majority of benefits stemming from biological control (80%). Close to 20% of total benefits result from crop genetic improvement, and less than 1% result from all other activities. The implications of these results for research investment strategies in SSA and impact assessment are discussed. 2010-01 2024-12-19T12:55:51Z 2024-12-19T12:55:51Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/166082 en Wiley Maredia, Mywish K.; Raitzer, David Anthony. 2010. Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach. Agricultural Economics, Volume 41 no. 1 p. 81-100
spellingShingle agricultural research
biological control
cgiar
cost benefit analysis
plant breeding
profitability
research
research support
africa
Maredia, Mywish K.
Raitzer, David Anthony
Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach
title Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach
title_full Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach
title_fullStr Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach
title_full_unstemmed Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach
title_short Estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in Africa through benefit-cost analysis: a 'best-evidence' approach
title_sort estimating overall returns to international agricultural research in africa through benefit cost analysis a best evidence approach
topic agricultural research
biological control
cgiar
cost benefit analysis
plant breeding
profitability
research
research support
africa
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/166082
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