Global agricultural R&D spending in the public and private sectors steadily increased between 2000 and 2008. Most of this growth was driven by larger middle-income countries such as China and India. The ASTI Global Assessment of Agricultural R&D Spending, published in collaboration with the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), discusses these key trends in [...]

ASTI is pleased to announce the launch of a new survey round in the WANA region, thanks to a grant from the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The WANA region faces critical limitations on land and water resources for agriculture while experiencing rapid growth in population and food [...]

What is the role of the private sector in agricultural R&D in developing countries? And what government policies enhance private sector innovation? A series of country reports and thematic papers published by ASTI—based on a collaborative project led by Rutgers University, IFPRI, and McGill University—address these questions and examine recent trends in private sector agricultural [...]

Despite greater government commitment to agricultural research throughout South Asia, investment levels may be insufficient to meet the considerable food supply challenges on the horizon, according to a newly published ASTI report.  India continues to be the region’s largest player in agricultural research and technology development. The country’s annual investment in agricultural R&D has doubled [...]

Pakistan has one of the largest agricultural research systems among developing countries, employing over 3,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers. Agricultural R&D investment in the country increased during 2000–09, albeit at an irregular pace. However, based on a number of indicators, Pakistan appears to be falling behind other South Asian countries, according to a newly released [...]

A survey of agricultural researchers and managers from 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has shed new light on the state of data collection capacity and infrastructure across the continent. The Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) initiative conducted the survey as part of an effort to streamline and integrate its own data collection activities [...]

While many countries grapple with policy responses to rising food prices and climate-related production problems, China has clearly staked out its position on the role of research and development (R&D) in confronting agricultural challenges. Total public investment in agricultural R&D in China doubled from 2001 to 2008, according to a new country note published by [...]

Retaining scientific talent is one of the biggest challenges facing the Vietnamese Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI) today. That challenge could become even more onerous if new legislation is passed that makes it more difficult to fund researcher salaries from core funds. Placed under the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science (VAAS), AGI is involved in biotechnology [...]

A new road map charts constructive ways forward to revitalize African agricultural research and development (R&D). Strong national agricultural R&D programs are crucial to enable farmers to be more productive and prosperous. Published by the Agricultural Science & Technology Indicators (ASTI) initiative—facilitated by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)—the road map describes the current situation [...]

Strong government commitment has resulted in a near doubling of public investment in agricultural research and development (R&D) in India since the mid-1990s, according to the newest country note published by ASTI and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Funding is expected to increase further in the coming years. The government’s latest five-year plan targets [...]