Private-sector investment in R&D: a review of policy options to promote its growth in developing-country agriculture

Technological innovation is vital to enhancing agricultural productivity and reducing poverty in many developing countries. Public investment in research and development has historically driven technological change in agriculture; however, recent trends suggest that the private sector may play a larger role in the future. Although there is optimism about the private sector's ability to generate new technologies relevant to developing-country agriculture, current levels of private investment remain low. The authors examine the determinants of private R&D investment in developing-country agriculture, the market, and institutional constraints that limit the growth of investment, and incentives that can promote more rapid investment growth. [EconLit classification: O300, Q160]. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.