APAARI conducted a survey on “Research to Policy Pathway discussions” focusing on ways to influence evidence-based decision making in agricultural policies. The survey included responses from 49 respondents based out of 16 countries in South-East Asia.

Many issues currently challenge agricultural production and marketing systems. Research evidence and related-information has the potential to influence and guide decision-making to address these issues. Agricultural research evidence and information can help decision makers to make well-informed decisions about policies, programmes and projects to bring benefit to the sector and, importantly, to smallholder farmers.

In June 2021, APAARI administered a survey on the Research to Policy Pathways, which we received responses from 49 respondents representing 16 countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The purpose of the survey was to map the agricultural research to policy pathways; understand the role and extent that agricultural research institutions engage with decision makers; and the use of agricultural research evidence and information in policy processes. We continued discussions about these themes with some experts in the region in a panel discussion and focus group discussions on August 6th. An understanding of the research-to-policy cycle and, effective communication of scientific outputs and evidences for decision making, priority setting, and demonstrating of the impact of research were some factors identified by experts as crucial for enabling the uptake of research evidence in policy processes.