Key Trends from the 2007 ASTI country report

• With close to 4,000 fte researchers in 2002, the Philippines has one of the largest agricultural research systems in Asia.
• Nevertheless, average scientific qualifications of Philippine agricultural research staff are relatively low: less than half of all agricultural researchers held postgraduate degrees in 2002.
• Total agricultural R&D expenditures in the Philippines rose by two-thirds during 1992-2002.
• The organizational structure of agricultural R&D in the Philippines is highly complex with two separate but closely linked networks existing side by side: NARRDN and the regional consortia. Both systems comprise a large number of national government, regional government, and higher education agencies, each with its own commodity focus and area of responsibilities.
• What distinguishes the Philippines from many of its Southeast Asian neighbors is the important role the higher education sector (mainly UPLB) plays in agricultural R&D.
• In 2002, the Philippine government provided more than 85 percent of funding to the government R&D agencies.

Philippines