2025 ReSAKSS - Nurturing Africa’s Agricultural Transformation: The Role of Investment in Research and Development (R&D): Dr. Gert-Jan Stads

Dr. Gert-Jan Stads, Senior Manager, R&D Data Systems and Global Partnerships, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT

Transcript

1. ReSAKSSANNUAL CONFERENCE Moving the Technology Frontiers in African Agrifood Systems. Nurturing Africa’s Agricultural Transformation: The Role of R&D Investment Gert-Jan Stads Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, CGIAR January 22, 2026
2. Agricultural R&D still matters Agriculture jobs, food, stability Accelerating pressures population, climate, shocks R&D long-term engine of transformation
3. R&D Spending Trends • Public ag R&D spending in Africa has doubled between 2000-2020 • Growth slowed after 2011 • Spending is highly concentrated in a few countries 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 Total spending in million PPP dollars (2020 prices) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 Egypt Nigeria Kenya South… Ethiopia Ghana Morocco Algeria Uganda Cote… Tunisia Tanzania Mali Senegal Namibia Benin Congo, DR Mozambi… Burkina… Cameroon Mauritius Rwanda Malawi Sudan Botswana Niger Togo Burundi Guinea Zambia Madagas… Sierra… Chad Congo Cabo Verde Liberia Eswatini Gambia Central… Eritrea Lesotho Gabon Sao Tome… Zimbabwe Somalia Guinea-… Agricultural research spending (million 2020 PPP dollars)
4. Paradox: R&D spending is up, commitment is not • R&D intensity fell: 0.52% → 0.38% of AgGDP • 41 of 46 countries below AU target • Intensity ≠ performance
5. Moving beyond “how much”: Measuring R&D system performance • 1% target = blunt instrument • Scale & capacity matter • Introducing ARDSCI • Human capital • Funding per researcher • Commitment over time • Scientific output
6. Five Priority Actions • Increase and stabilize research investment • Invest smarter, not just more • Develop the next generation of scientists • Connect research to the wider system • Measure what matters
7. ReSAKSSANNUAL CONFERENCE Moving the Technology Frontiers in African Agrifood Systems. THANK YOU