Sub-Saharan countries will need to “double their investment in agricultural research and development if ambitious United Nations and African Union targets are to be achieved,” according to a new report released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

The report found that although agricultural R&D spending and human resource capacity has grown considerably in the region since 2000, it was concentrated in only a few African countries.

The report shows how underinvestment, inadequate human resource capacity, poor research infrastructure and a lack of coherent policies continue to constrain the quantity and quality of research outputs in many African countries. It also acknowledges that female scientists are grossly underrepresented in agricultural R&D in the region.

On a positive note, the report outlines successful policy changes that have already been adopted in some countries and which could provide valuable lessons to others.

Taking Stock of National Agricultural R&D Capacity in Africa South of the Sahara was produced by the Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) program led by IFPRI. Its findings were discussed during a Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) event: Delivering Africa’s Future Through Science-led Agricultural Transformation held in Johannesburg from 25 to 28 November 2014.

Read the full story: African countries south of the Sahara must double investment in agricultural R&D, report finds