African countries invested $3.83 billion in agricultural research and development (R&D) in 2023, accounting for about 8% of global spending, according to a report published on April 30 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The report, titled "Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators 2004–2023: Global and Regional Trends," showed that agricultural R&D spending in Africa increased by an average of 1.5% annually since 2004. African governments invested $2.90 billion in agricultural R&D in 2004.
However, spending remained unevenly distributed across the continent's sub-regions.
North Africa accounted for nearly one-third of total African agricultural R&D expenditure in 2023, with $1.26 billion. East Africa followed with $1.05 billion, ahead of West Africa with $1.03 billion. Southern Africa invested $386 million, while Central Africa allocated $108 million.
At the global level, agricultural R&D spending reached $50.42 billion in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms in 2023, compared with $35.85 billion in 2004.
Asia accounted for 48% of global agricultural R&D expenditure, while the Americas represented 22%. Europe followed with 20%, ahead of Africa with 8% and Oceania with 3%.
Asia recorded the strongest increase in spending during the period under review. The region raised agricultural R&D expenditure from $12.5 billion in 2004 to $24.2 billion in 2023, representing an average annual growth rate of 3.5%.
Africa More Than Doubles Its Research Workforce
The FAO report highlighted the economic benefits of agricultural R&D. The organization said agricultural research helps reduce food prices, improves resource-use efficiency, increases output with fewer inputs such as land, labor, fertilizers and crop protection products, and strengthens crop resilience to changing environmental conditions.
At the same time, Africa more than doubled its agricultural research workforce over the past two decades. The number of agricultural researchers on the continent increased from 17,958 in 2004, representing 9% of the global total, to 41,022 in 2023, representing 13% of the global total.
Africa recorded the fastest growth in agricultural researcher numbers worldwide during the period, with an average annual growth rate of 4.4%. Asia followed with 3.4%, while Oceania posted 2%, the Americas 1.3%, and Europe 0.6%.
Regional disparities remained pronounced. North Africa employed 17,344 agricultural researchers in 2023, ahead of East Africa with 11,587 researchers and West Africa with 9,334. Central Africa employed 1,911 researchers, while Southern Africa employed 846.
Globally, Asia accounted for 45% of agricultural researchers in 2023. Europe represented 24% of the total, while the Americas accounted for 14%. Africa held a 13% share, ahead of Oceania with 3%. Public agricultural R&D systems worldwide employed approximately 316,358 full-time researchers in 2023, compared with 204,744 in 2004. This increase represented an average annual growth rate of 2.3%.
