Financing Agricultural R&D: Global Perspectives

Agricultural research and development (R&D) is big business. But "business as usual" may not be sustainable. As governments trim budgets, public support for national and international research is coming under closer scrutiny. Budget makers are asking whether the current R&D institutions are still needed. How should they adapt to accommodate changes in science (such as modern biotechnology), changes in scientific institutions (for example, plant variety rights), changes in society (demands for both a protected environment and safe, cheap food), changes in agriculture itself (fewer but better-educated farmers), changes in the markets for agricultural products (including more international trade and an evolving product mix), and changes in the economy in general (the declining relative importance of agriculture)? Although the details of the debates concerning research policies differ from country to country, many of the fundamental questions about the public role in agricultural R&D are common to most countries. Certainly the perception is widespread that agricultural R&D needs to be revamped and revitalized. There is also a growing awareness that simply seeking more dollars is not the answer. The financing, organization, and management of public-sector R&D will have to be dealt with in an integrated way.