Key Trends from the 2004 country brief

• Agricultural research in South Africa is far better funded than most—if not all—Sub-Saharan African countries, given it reports one of the highest spending per scientist and intensity ratios in the region.
• The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) is by far the largest provider of agricultural research in South Africa, being responsible for more than 60 percent of the country’s agricultural research expenditure and staff.
• Since 1997, government funding to ARC has begun to contract, and total research staff numbers have decreased by one-third.
• Although private-sector involvement in agricultural R&D is minimal, its share of 3 percent of South African total agricultural research expenditure and staff is high compared to other African countries.

South Africa