Agricultural Research

Research—or technology generation—provides rural people with knowledge and innovations needed to increase productivity and sustainability of their production systems.

Over the past twenty years, the World Bank has financed over US$2.5 billion of investment in agricultural research in developing countries, and has made significant resources available to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) for the benefit of our client countries.

Returns on this investment have generally been very good, ranging conservatively from a 175% return on investment to almost 900%, and much of the success in meeting global food needs can be attributed to these investments.

Still, in many countries productivity of research programs is low. Despite increases in the availability of new knowledge and technologies, research systems do not necessarily increase the number of innovations reaching the farmer or the marketplace. As a response, the Bank’s focus in agricultural research is shifting from institutional support to supporting innovation systems that aim to serve the needs of the economy by achieving better integration of the agricultural science and technology infrastructure with production needs, by increasing private sector participation in technology development, and by developing stronger linkages between producers, industry, universities, and research institutions. Such research systems must ultimately be demand-driven with closer linkages to clients, must become more efficient, and must develop sustainable sources of financing. 

The World Bank remains committed to assisting its client countries strengthen their agricultural innovation and research systems through its projects and through its work with international partners to customize the best international research to the domestic setting.