This document summarizes the status of agricultural research and investment in Asia-Pacific countries to support sustainable development. It finds that most countries have policies focused on food security, productivity, and sustainable natural resource management. Common research strategies include technology transfer, R&D, and multidisciplinary systems research. Priority areas of research relate to sustainability, climate change, new technologies, and markets. Challenges include climate change, aging populations, inadequate research staff and facilities, and low levels of investment. Opportunities lie in advanced technologies, collaboration, and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

1. A Synthesis of the Status of Agricultural
Research and Investment to Support
Sustainable Development in Countries
of Asia and the Pacific
Mohammad A. Jabbar, Bhag Mal and Raghunath Ghodake
Presented at the High Level Policy Dialogue on
Investments in Agricultural Research for Sustainable
Development in the Asia-Pacific Region,
Bangkok, 8-9 December 2015

2. Objective and method
• To provide background information about the
current policies, strategies, priorities in agricultural
research and innovation to facilitate discussion at
the dialogue
• 25 countries requested for brief status report
• 22 responded – divided based on GDP/capita in US$
– high income (5) > 20000
– medium income (7) 2500- 20000
– low income (10) <2500

3. Current policies having implications for agricultural
research and innovation
Policy/policy objective Number of countries responding by
income level
High
n = 5
Medium
n = 7
Low
n = 10
All
N=22
Food security/food supply 3 7 10 20
Productivity improvement 1 5 7 13
Sustainable NRM 2 5 7 14
Sustainable development/sustainability 2 2 1 5
Competitiveness/market development 3 3 1 7
Poverty alleviation/inclusive growth 3 4 7
Increase rural income/promote viability of
farming/protection of smallholders
1 3 3 7
Rural development/rural economic growth 2 1 3
Promotion of agricultural industry/rural
industry for economic development
3 1 1 5
Employment generation 1 2 3

4. Strategies adopted for implementing policies
Strategies Number of countries responding by
income level
High
n = 5
Medium
n = 7
Low
n = 10
All
N=22
Innovation in technology transfer/support services 5 6 4 15
R&D, generation of new knowledge 2 5 7 14
Multidisciplinary/multi-institutional/integrated
Systems research
3 3 6
Need based/demand driven research 2 1 1 4
Strengthen climate risk management/NRM capacity 4 1 6 11
Develop infrastructure/organization 4 3 3 10
Develop agri-food industry/value chain/market 2 2 5 9
Create fairer farm business/competitiveness 2 1 3
Strong IPR/regulatory science/policy advocacy 1 3 1 5
Link urban- rural development/ land management 1 1 2 4

5. Specific focus areas covering commodities,
enterprises, systems, and research approaches
Specific focus areas Number of countries responding by
income level
High
n = 5
Medium
n = 7
Low
n = 10
All
N=22
Global warming/climate
change/NRM/environment
3 4 7 14
Frontline research and innovation 3 4 5 12
Strengthen market/value
chain/competitiveness
3 2 6 11
Stable food /commodity supply 1 4 5 10
Advanced facilities/ services/
infrastructure
1 3 4 8
Problems of producers/industry 2 4 2 8
Policy/governance/advocacy 2 2 2 6

6. Priority areas of research and innovation
Priority areas of research and innovation Number of countries responding by
income level
High
n = 5
Medium
n = 7
Low
n = 10
All
N=22
Sustainability/NRM/climate change 4 6 9 19
New technology/improved productivity 2 6 9 17
Market/value chain development 3 4 7
Socioeconomics/policy/market research 1 3 4
Food supply for citizens / food safety 2 1 1 4
Technology for rural industries/rural R &D/
farmer need based research
3 1 4
Cost cutting innovations/competitiveness 2 1 3
Innovation in use of research output/ tech 1 2 3
Contribution to global issues /more effective
aid investment in agriculture
3 3

7. Priority research areas encompassing climate
change, environment and NRM
• Soil fertility
• Soil erosion
• Soil degradation in general
• Soil salinity and acidity
• Draught and soil moisture stress
• Flood, sea level/water level rise
• Water pollution
• Water scarcity and efficiency in use
• Loss of biomass and vegetation
• Loss of biodiversity
• Incidence of weather induced pests and diseases of plants and animals
• Degradation of ecosystems in general

8. Major targets set to be achieved thru agric development
Targets set Number of countries responding by
income level
High
n = 5
Medium
n = 7
Low
n = 10
All
N=22
Stable food supply/food security/food
safety
4 5 9 18
Sustainable development/NRM 3 6 8 17
Generate and use new technology/
improve productivity
2 4 6 12
Poverty reduction/rural income generation 4 5 9
Competitiveness of agriculture
sector/market performance
2 1 2 5
Funding priority for rural R&D/ Improve
R&D capacity
3 3
Improve aid effectiveness 1 1

9. Types of research institutions
Types of research institutions Number of countries responding
by income level
High
n = 5
Medium
n = 7
Low
n = 10
All
N=22
National research institutions 5 7 10 22
Provincial/local govt research institutions 4 5 8 17
Universities/colleges 3 4 7 14
Private industry 4 3 1 8
NGO/farmer associations/collectives 4 4 2 10

10. Partnership, policy linkage and donor connection
• Inter-institutional partnership and research-policy linkages
stronger in high income countries so they address problems
of producers and consumers better
• High income countries donors to CG system and through
bilateral funding to individual countries. Others are
beneficiaries of bilateral aid and partnership with CG IAR
centres, several host HQs of CG IAR centres

11. Financial investment
• Public sector primary source e.g.90% in China and 63% in
Bhutan
• Level of investment in ag research (% of AgGDP)
– China 0.5-0.6
– PNG 0.6
– Bangladesh 0.67
– Australia generated by imposing 0.5% of industry
gross value as levies and providing matching fund by
government.
– Performance, accountability and contribution to aid for trade are
some of the criteria for fund allocation

12. Research infrastructure and personnel
• Research staff inadequate and aging due to
insufficient training for replacement
• Quality of staff
– Korea, Taiwan, Japan have 72, >40 and 38% of staff with
PhD
– less than 20% in low income countries
• In Japan 15% of research personnel are women
• In Nepal, PhD has no additional value
• Laboratories inadequate and aging in low income
countries

13. Major challenges and opportunities ahead
Major challenges and opportunities Number of countries responding by
income level
High
n = 5
Medium
n = 7
Low
n = 10
All
N=22
Climate change/environmental problems 2 6 5 13
Aging/declining rural pop/rural transformation 3 1 4
ICT/biotechnology/other advanced technology 2 1 1 4
Food supply/security 2 2 4
Food safety 2 1 3
Maintain farm income 1 1 2
Poverty/hunger/malnutrition 1 2 3
Productivity improvement/value addition 1 2 3 6
Yield gap/use of knowledge 1 3 4
Market development/competitiveness 1 2 4 7
Inadequate/aging research staff 1 2 6 9
Inadequate/reduced funding for research 2 5 7
Inadequate/aging labs/facilities for research 2 4 6

14. Looking ahead- short and medium term plan
• All countries have ongoing plans and programmes
based on past achievements
• Some operate under
– five year plans, or longer term strategic plans or
– indicative plans through annual budget allocation
• There are specific plans or focus areas –
– more engagement with stakeholders,
– agriculture and human health,
– more engagement with CG centres,
– more collaboration within regional bodies like ASEAN

15. Some issues deserve strong consideration
• Alignment with the sustainable development goals
(SDG) agenda
• Structural change in the agriculture sector in the
region
• More investment but where and how?
• Collaboration within regional bodies

16. Several SDG goals have implications for agriculture
and rural development
Goal 1 : End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2 : End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and
promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 5 : Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 6 : Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all
Goal 8 : Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,
full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 12 : Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13 : Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14 : Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development
Goal 15 : Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification,
and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal 17 : Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global
partnership for sustainable development

17. Livestock sector becoming more important….

18. More investment but where and how?

19. Greater collaboration within reginal bodies
• ASEAN Economic Community strategies include
"to promote cooperation, joint approaches and
technology transfer among ASEAN Member
Countries and international, regional organisations
and private sector”.
• SAARC also envisages close collaboration
• Very little in evidence so far
• Potential gains from collaboration high

20. Thank you for your attention