OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this webinar is to present the key trends and challenges of the agricultural research systems in Southeast Asia, with a major aim to explore avenues through which ASTI evidence can be integrated into regional policy processes.

BACKGROUND

Policymakers realize that higher levels of investment in agricultural research are key to increasing agricultural productivity. Despite this, many low- and middle-income countries struggle with serious capacity and funding constraints in their agricultural research and higher education systems. Over the past three years, the ASTI program, led by APAARI and IFPRI, has collected and analyzed detailed data on the structure, capacity, funding, and focus of agricultural research systems in Southeast Asia. The key results of this work have been bundled in a regional synthesis report, which was launched recently. The report can be accessed by clicking on this link: Agricultural Research in Southeast Asia: A Cross-Country Analysis of Resource Allocation, Performance, and Impact on Productivity.

The report highlights large-scale underinvestment in agricultural research and development (R&D) as well as major research capacity gaps across Southeast Asia. It urges countries to step up their agricultural R&D investment to enhance future agricultural productivity, food security, and poverty reduction, and to respond more effectively to challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation.

In addition to the regional report, a series of country briefs and datasets, featuring national-level trends in agricultural research investment and capacity, have been made available on the ASTI website (https://www.asti.cgiar.org/ap-outputs).

Please make sure to register HERE.