Investing in Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable, Productivity-Led Agricultural Growth

1. Senior Economist, Economic Research Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Investing in Science, Technology, and Innovation for
Sustainable Productivity-Led Agricultural Growth
Dr. Keith Fuglie
This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. The findings and conclusions in this presentation are those of the author and should not be
construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

2. #2023ReSAKSS #2023ATOR
Summary Findings
• Africa has achieved robust agricultural growth over the past 20 years, but growth has
mainly come from increasing the use of land and resources rather than raising productivity
• The key to moving to sustainable, productivity-led growth is through strengthening
national capacities in agricultural science, technology and innovation
• Agricultural S&T indicators show that Africa continues to underinvest in agricultural
research and development (R&D)
• Policy reforms can also strengthen the enabling environment for promoting rapid adoption
of improved farm technology and innovations along the agri-food value chain

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Agricultural growth has
depended on expending
the use of natural
resources
TFP = total factor productivity, or total output per unit of total inputs
• A few African countries though show
evidence of moving toward
productivity-led growth
• Egypt
• Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi

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Sub-Saharan Africa has
invested relatively little in
agricultural R&D
Region
Public agricultural research intensity
ag R&D/
ag GDP
ag R&D/
cropland
(%) Trend ($/hectare)
Latin America and Caribbean 1.06 ↑ $25
Brazil 1.65 ↑ $31
East and South Asia 0.46 ↑ $27
China 0.73 ↑ $47
Southeast Asia 0.34 ↓ $18
South Asia 0.30 ↑ $17
Sub-Saharan Africa 0.38 ↓ $9
Developing-country total public ag R&D 0.52 ↑ $23
Developed-country total public ag R&D 3.25 ↓ $52
• National investment in agricultural R&D needed
to develop and adapt technologies suitable for
African crops and growing conditions
• Economic studies show that agricultural R&D in
Africa has produced large economic benefits
relative to cost
• The economic benefits from R&D are widely
shared amongst producers (higher incomes) and
consumers (lower food prices)

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Policy reforms can
stimulate innovation and
growth along the agri-food
value chain
• Strengthening extension services to
disseminate new technology to farmers
• Encourage Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) to attract improved technologies for
food manufacturing, storage,
transportation, and retailing

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Chapter includes country-
specific benchmark
indicators for:
• Investment in agricultural R&D
• Capacities in agricultural extension
• Growth in agricultural output and total
factor productivity

7. THANK YOU

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