Key Trends from the 2008 Country Brief

• The share of INIFAP in total Mexican agricultural R&D spending and capacity has gradually declined over the past decades in favor of other government agencies and the university sector. INIFAP’s share is expected to decline further in the future, given that a large portion of its scientist pool is up for retirement within the next decade.

• Agricultural R&D spending in Mexico rose gradually during 1991–2006 due mainly to increased investments by the higher education sector and government agencies other than INIFAP.

• The national government largely finances public agricultural research through either block grants or competitive funding mechanisms.

• The private sector plays a relatively limited role in conducting agricultural R&D in Mexico.

• Overall, average qualification levels of Mexican agricultural R&D staff improved significantly during 1996–2006, and the country now has one of the most highly qualified researcher pools in Latin America.

Mexico

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