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World Bank says Africa is caught in agri R&D paradox
The agricultural R&D spending gap is growing between developed and developing countries, says a 16 September report published by the World Bank. Globa, agricultural research funding is “reaching new heights” but R&D spending is declining in half of all African countries. This is unfortunate, the report says, since agricultural innovation is urgently needed for these countries to grow their economies. “Agriculture in Africa and South Asia faces an innovation paradox,” said William Maloney, a World Bank economist and lead author of the report. “Policy makers in developing countries need to give careful attention to reversing these trends and improving the broader enabling environment to encourage private sector contribution as well.”