PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

doi:10.15302/J-FASE-2023484

Front. Agr. Sci. Eng.

REVIEW

Gert-Jan STADS(

), Alejandro NIN-PRATT, Keith WIEBE, Timothy B. SULSER, Rui BENFICA

International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC 20005, USA

Download: PDF(3703 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

● Global public and private agricultural R&D spending has increased since 2000.

● Agri-food R&D drives productivity growth, but underinvestment in R&D persists.

● Agri-food R&D will need to address objectives beyond productivity.

● R&D investment in climate adaptation alleviates the impacts of climate change.

● Greater cross-country coordination and integration of agri-food R&D is essential.

Research is essential for improvement of agricultural productivity, resource use and resilience, and for food systems transformation more broadly. This article analyzes the drivers of past agricultural productivity growth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and argues that productivity is not growing fast enough to meet the needs of a global population of 10 billion by 2050. A sustainable transformation of agri-food systems in LMICs will need greater and faster technical change. Higher investment in agri-food R&D is therefore needed to accelerate productivity growth and address the social, economic, nutritional and environmental challenges facing LMICs. Greater and better-targeted investment in sustainable technologies and climate change mitigation and adaptation will be particularly important to reducing the climate change impacts on agriculture and food security in the coming decades. However, LMICs with small research systems and limited innovation capacity lack the scale and resources to effectively tackle the challenges ahead. Better coordination and a clear articulation of roles and responsibilities among national, subregional, regional and global R&D actors (both from the public and private sectors) are essential to ensuring that scarce financial, human, and infrastructure resources are optimized, duplications minimized, and synergies and complementarities enhanced.

Keywords agri-food system innovation R&D investment productivity climate change

Corresponding Author(s): Gert-Jan STADS

Just Accepted Date: 20 February 2023 Online First Date: 17 March 2023

Cite this article:

Gert-Jan STADS,Alejandro NIN-PRATT,Keith WIEBE, et al. PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 17 March 2023. [Epub ahead of print] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2023484.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2023484
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y/V/I/0

Fig.1 Long-term trends in public (a) and public and private (b) agricultural research spending by income group. Sources: Beintema et al.^[⁵^] and Fuglie^[⁶^]. Investment levels are expressed in purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars to equalize differences in price levels across countries. Income group classifications are based on the situation in 2019. HIC = high-income countries; LMIC = low- and middle-income countries.

Fig.2 Drivers of agricultural growth in LMICs (a) and sub-Saharan Africa (b), 1961–2021. Source: Calculations based on USDA-ERS international agricultural productivity database^[¹⁰^].

Fig.3 Agricultural research intensity ratios by income group, 1981–2016. Source: Beintema et al.^[⁵^].

Fig.4 Agricultural research investment gap by region, income group, and size of the national agricultural research system, 2016. Source: Calculated by authors based on Beintema et al.^[⁵^] and Nin-Pratt^[²²^]. Data indicate the investment gap in terms of its share of actual 2016 investment. Large National Agricultural Research System (NARS) are those that fall into the upper tercile among all LMICs in terms of investment; medium NARS fall into the middle tercile; and small NARS into the bottom tercile. NARS were ranked based on their size in 2016.

Fig.5 Impact of investments in agricultural R&D, water management and market access infrastructure on hunger reduction with and without climate change (percent reduction in 2030 compared to reference scenario in the same year) for selected countries in East and Southeast Asia (a), South Asia (b), sub-Saharan Africa (c), and Latin America and the Caribbean (d). Source: Data for selected countries from Sulser et al.^[²^]. Scenarios assume middle-of-the-road changes in population and income, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) 2. Climate change is modeled based on IPCC’s Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario. See Sulser et al.^[²^] for details.

1	A, Alexandratos J Bruinsma . World Agriculture Towards 2030/2050: the 2012 Revision. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2012
2	T B, Sulser K D, Wiebe S A, Dunston N, Cenacchi A, Nin-Pratt D, Mason-D’Croz R D, Robertson D, Willenbockel M W Rosegrant . Climate Change and Hunger: Estimating Costs of Adaptation in the Agrifood System. Food Policy Report. Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 2021, 62
3	M, Herrero P K, Thornton D, Mason-D’Croz J, Palmer T G, Benton B L, Bodirsky J R, Bogard A, Hall B, Lee K, Nyborg P, Pradhan G D, Bonnett B A, Bryan B M, Campbell S, Christensen M, Clark M T, Cook Boer I J M, de C, Downs K D C, Folberth C M, Godde J S, Gerber M, Grundy P, Havlik A, Jarvis R, King A M, Loboguerrero M A, Lopes C L, McIntyre R, Naylor J, Navarro M, Obersteiner A, Parodi M B, Peoples I, Pikaar A, Popp J, Rockström M J, Robertson P, Smith E, Stehfest S M, Swain H, Valin Wijk M, van Zanten H H E, van S, Vermeulen J, Vervoort P C West . Innovation can accelerate the transition towards a sustainable food system. Nature Food, 2020, 1(5): 266–272 https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-0074-1
4	P L Pingali . Green revolution: impacts, limits, and the path ahead. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012, 109(31): 12302–12308 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0912953109 pmid: 22826253
5	N, Beintema A N, Pratt G J Stads . Key Trends in Global Agricultural Research Investment. ASTI Program Note. Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 2020
6	K Fuglie . The growing role of the private sector in agricultural research and development world-wide. Global Food Security, 2016, 10: 29–38 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2016.07.005
7	K O, Fuglie M, Clancy P W Heisey . Private-sector research and development. In: Kalaitzandonakes N, Carayannis E, Grigoroudis E, Rozakis S, eds. From Agriscience to Agribusiness. Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management. Springer, 2018, 41–73
8	M, Ivanic W Martin . Sectoral productivity growth and poverty reduction: national and global impacts. World Development, 2018, 109: 429–439 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.07.004
9	E, Ligon E Sadoulet . Estimating the relative benefits of agricultural growth on the distribution of expenditures. World Development, 2018, 109: 417–428 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2016.12.007
10	States Department of Agriculture, United Research Service (USDA–ERS) Economic . International Agricultural Productivity Database. Available at USDA website on June 20, 2022
11	A, Steensland M Zeigler . Productivity in agriculture for a sustainable future. In: Campos H, ed. The Innovation Revolution in Agriculture. Springer, 2021, 33–69
12	J M, Alston M C, Marra P G, Pardey T J Wyatt . Research returns redux: a meta-analysis of the returns to agricultural R&D. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2000, 44(2): 185–215 https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8489.00107
13	R E Evenson . Economic impacts of agricultural research and extension. In: Gardner B L, Rausser G C, eds. Handbook of Agricultural Economics. North-Holland, 2001, 1: 573–628
14	T Mogues . Political economy determinants of public spending allocations: a review of theories, and implications for agricultural public investment. European Journal of Development Research, 2015, 27(3): 452–473 https://doi.org/10.1057/ejdr.2015.35
15	E, Diaz-Bonilla D, Orden A Kwieciński . Enabling Environment for Agricultural Growth and Competitiveness: Evaluation, Indicators and Indices. OECD Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Papers, No. 67. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2014 doi:
16	X, Rao T M, Hurley P G Pardey . Are agricultural R&D returns declining and development dependent. World Development, 2019, 122: 27–37 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.05.009
17	D, Mason-D’Croz T B, Sulser K, Wiebe M W, Rosegrant S K, Lowder A, Nin-Pratt D, Willenbockel S, Robinson T, Zhu N, Cenacchi S, Dunston R D Robertson . Agricultural investments and hunger in Africa modeling potential contributions to SDG2-Zero Hunger. World Development, 2019, 116: 38–53 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.12.006 pmid: 30944503
18	M W, Rosegrant T B, Sulser D, Mason-D’Croz N, Cenacchi A N, Pratt S, Dunston T, Zhu C, Ringler K, Wiebe S, Robinson D, Willenbockel H, Xie H Y, Kwon T, Johnson T, Thomas F, Wimmer R, Schaldach G C, Nelson B Willaarts . Quantitative Foresight Modeling to Inform the CGIAR Research Portfolio. Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 2017
19	M W, Rosegrant T B, Sulser N, Cenacchi K, Wiebe D Willenbocke . Estimating the Global Investment Gap in Research and Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Intensification in the Global South. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI), 2021
20	J S, James P G, Pardey J M Alston . Agricultural R&D Policy: a Tragedy of the International Commons. University of Minnesota Department of Applied Economics: Staff Paper Series, 2008
21	S, Benin L, McBride T Mogues . Why do African countries underinvest in agricultural R&D? In: Lynam J, Beintema N M, Roseboom J, Badiane O, eds. Agricultural Research in Africa: Investing in Future Harvests. Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), 2016, 109–138
22	A Nin-Pratt . Agricultural R&D investment intensity: a misleading conventional measure and a new intensity index. Agricultural Economics, 2021, 52(2): 317–328 https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12620
23	A, Nin-Pratt G Stads . Innovation capacity, food system development, and the size of the agricultural research system. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2023, 7: 1051356
24	S S, Myers M R, Smith S, Guth C D, Golden B, Vaitla N D, Mueller A D, Dangour P Huybers . Climate change and global food systems: potential impacts on food security and undernutrition. Annual Review of Public Health, 2017, 38(1): 259–277 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044356 pmid: 28125383
25	M, Springmann M, Clark D, Mason-D’Croz K, Wiebe B L, Bodirsky L, Lassaletta Vries W, de S J, Vermeulen M, Herrero K M, Carlson M, Jonell M, Troell F, DeClerck L J, Gordon R, Zurayk P, Scarborough M, Rayner B, Loken J, Fanzo H C J, Godfray D, Tilman J, Rockström W Willett . Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits. Nature, 2018, 562(7728): 519–525 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0594-0 pmid: 30305731
26	G, Nelson J, Bogard K, Lividini J, Arsenault M, Riley T B, Sulser D, Mason-D’Croz B, Power D, Gustafson M, Herrero K, Wiebe K, Cooper R, Remans M Rosegrant . Income growth and climate change effects on global nutrition security to mid-century. Nature Sustainability, 2018, 1(12): 773–781 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0192-z
27	D Asia . Funding Agricultural Innovation for the Global South: Does it Promote Sustainable Agricultural Intensification? Colombo, Sri Lanka: Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification, 2021
28	M W, Rosegrant T B, Sulser K Wiebe . Global investment gap in agricultural research and innovation to meet Sustainable Development Goals for hunger and Paris Agreement climate change mitigation. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2022, 6: 965767 https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.965767
29	U L C, Baldos T W, Hertel F C Moore . Understanding the spatial distribution of welfare impacts of global warming on agriculture and its drivers. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2019, 101(5): 1455–1472 https://doi.org/10.1093/ajae/aaz027
30	M W, Rosegrant J, Koo N, Cenacchi C, Ringer R D, Robertson M, Fisher C M, Cox K, Garrett N D, Perez P Sabbagh . Food Security in a World of Natural Resource Scarcity: The Role of Agricultural Technologies. Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 2014
31	J M, Antle S Capalbo . Adaptation of agricultural and food systems to climate change: an economic and policy perspective. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 2010, 32(3): 386–416 https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppq015
32	T, Reardon R, Echeverria J, Berdegué B, Minten S, Liverpool-Tasie D, Tschirley D Zilberman . Rapid transformation of food systems in developing regions: highlighting the role of agricultural research & innovations. Agricultural Systems, 2019, 172: 47–59 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2018.01.022
33	Braun J, von K, Afsana L O, Fresco M Hassan . Food systems: seven priorities to end hunger and protect the planet. Nature, 2021, 597(7874): 28–30 https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02331-x pmid: 34462598

[1]	Jinghan LI, Cees LEEUWIS, Nico HEERINK, Weifeng ZHANG. THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BACKYARD AS A LOCAL LEVEL INNOVATION INTERMEDIARY IN RURAL CHINA[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2022, 9(4): 558-576.
[2]	Jie YAN, Yize LIU, Rui ZHANG, Chenhui CUI, Yingying ZHENG, Minghao ZHUANG. TOWARD SUSTAINABLE MAIZE PRODUCTION FOR SMALLHOLDERS THROUGH OPTIMIZED STRATEGIES IN NORTH CHINA[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2022, 9(4): 547-557.
[3]	Bing-Xin WANG, Anouschka R. HOF, Chun-Sen MA. IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CROP PRODUCTION, PESTS AND PATHOGENS OF WHEAT AND RICE[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2022, 9(1): 4-18.
[4]	Ian T. RILEY. *A CASE FOR ASSESSING ALLOCASUARINA* AND CASUARINA SPP. FOR USE IN AGROECOSYSTEM IMPROVEMENT IN SEMI-ARID AREAS WITH A FOCUS ON CENTRAL ANATOLIA, TURKEY**[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2021, 8(4): 568-582.
[5]	Di WU, Allan A. ANDALES, Hui YANG, Qing SUN, Shichao CHEN, Xiuwei GUO, Donghao LI, Taisheng DU. LINKING CROP WATER PRODUCTIVITY TO SOIL PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL PROPERTIES[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2021, 8(4): 545-558.
[6]	Shenggen FAN. Sustainable intensification of agriculture is key to feeding Africa in the 21st century[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2020, 7(4): 366-370.
[7]	Bidjokazo FOFANA, Leonides HALOS-KIM, Mercy AKEREDOLU, Ande OKIROR, Kebba SIMA, Deola NAIBAKELAO, Mel OLUOCH, Fumiko ISEKI. Innovative agricultural extension value chain-based models for smallholder African farmers[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2020, 7(4): 418-426.
[8]	C. Wayne HONEYCUTT, Cristine L.S. MORGAN, Pipa ELIAS, Michael DOANE, John MESKO, Rob MYERS, LaKisha ODOM, Bianca MOEBIUS-CLUNE, Ron NICHOLS. Soil health: model programs in the USA[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2020, 7(3): 356-361.
[9]	Rattan LAL. Managing soil quality for humanity and the planet[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2020, 7(3): 251-253.
[10]	Jianbo SHEN, Qichao ZHU, Xiaoqiang JIAO, Hao YING, Hongliang WANG, Xin WEN, Wen XU, Tingyu LI, Wenfeng CONG, Xuejun LIU, Yong HOU, Zhenling CUI, Oene OENEMA, William J. DAVIES, Fusuo ZHANG. Agriculture Green Development: a model for China and the world[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2020, 7(1): 5-13.
[11]	Beth CLARK, Glyn D. JONES, Helen KENDALL, James TAYLOR, Yiying CAO, Wenjing LI, Chunjiang ZHAO, Jing CHEN, Guijun YANG, Liping CHEN, Zhenhong LI, Rachel GAULTON, Lynn J. FREWER. A proposed framework for accelerating technology trajectories in agriculture: a case study in China[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2018, 5(4): 485-498.
[12]	Yingjun ZHANG, Wenjie LU, Hao ZHANG, Jiqiong ZHOU, Yue SHEN. Grassland management practices in Chinese steppes impact productivity, diversity and the relationship[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2018, 5(1): 57-63.
[13]	Deli WANG, Ling WANG, Jushan LIU, Hui ZHU, Zhiwei ZHONG. Grassland ecology in China: perspectives and challenges[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2018, 5(1): 24-43.
[14]	La ZHUO, Arjen Y. HOEKSTRA. The effect of different agricultural management practices on irrigation efficiency, water use efficiency and green and blue water footprint[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2017, 4(2): 185-194.
[15]	Hongzhe JIANG,Wei WANG,Chunyang LI,Wei WANG. Innovation, practical benefits and prospects for the future development of automatic milking systems[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2017, 4(1): 37-47.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed