Institutional coverage 

The ASTI database collects, screens and summarizes agricultural R&D expenditure and related R&D personnel data for both developed and developing countries. Data are mainly collected at institute level and summarized in four institutional categories of implementing agencies: (1) Government; (2) Nonprofit; (3) University; and (4) Business (i.e., private sector). The first three categories together constitute a "public sub-total". R&D activities undertaken by international organizations are explicitly excluded and will be reported separately.

The statistical coverage of the four institutional categories varies quite a bit. Government and nonprofit research agencies are usually well covered both in terms of research expenditures and research personnel. The university category is rather problematic as estimations of time spent on research by faculty staff are rather sketchy. Usually a fixed percentage ranging between 10-50% is applied across all faculty staff, for all years. The contribution of PhD students is usually not covered. Research expenditure data by universities are seldom directly obtained and usually estimated indirectly. However, collecting data on research by public and private businesses constitutes the biggest challenge. In most developing countries business R&D surveys are not in place yet, but also in the developed countries “agriculture, forestry and fisheries” businesses tend to be covered quite loosely by business R&D surveys.

Definition of agricultural research 

Agricultural research, as defined here, includes research on crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries, natural resources, the use of agricultural inputs as well as the socioeconomic aspects of primary agricultural production.  Also included is research concerning the on-farm storage and processing of agricultural products, commonly referred to as post-harvest or food-processing research. Not included in the current data compilation are research activities in support of agro-chemical, agricultural machinery, or food processing industries (they are better reported under those industries) as well as the more basic and discipline-oriented research activities undertaken by departments such as microbiology and zoology. However, strict delineations have not always been possible.  

Researcher data 

The reported research personnel statistics are expressed in full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers. Researchers should hold at least a BSc degree or equivalent. FTE corrections were only made when more than 20% of the reported research staff time was spent on activities other than R&D, such as extension, teaching or technical services.

Expenditure data 

Research expenditure data include all expenditures (salaries, operating costs, and capital) from all sources (government, donors, private, own).  They are collected and reported in current local currency units as well as reported in constant 2000 local currency, constant 2000 US dollars, and constant 2000 international dollars. The adopted conversion procedure is to first deflate the expenditure series with a country-specific GDP deflator to 2000 and then convert the series to constant 2000 US dollars or constant 2000 international dollars by using either the 2000 annual average exchange rate or the 2000 purchasing power parity (PPP) index. The World Development Indicators from the World Bank are the primary source for most GDP deflator series, exchange rates, and PPP indexes used in these calculations. 

Data Export 

At present we do not have a facility to export data to a format that is readable by spreadsheet or database programs. Please note, however, that users of can Select and Copy data from the webpage tables and then Paste it straight into a spreadsheet program.

Country specific notes 

• Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico: Due to excessive inflation and currency changes expenditure data only reported in constant 1993 units.
• Ethiopia: Reported data includes Eritrea up to the date of independence.

Useful references 

OECD. Proposed Standard Practice for Surveys of Research and Experimental Development: “Frascati Manual 1993”. The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities Series. Paris: OECD, 1994.

Pardey, P.G., and J. Roseboom. ISNAR Agricultural Research Indicator Series: A Global Data Base on National Agricultural Research Systems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.

Pardey, P.G., J. Roseboom, and B.J. Craig. “A Yardstick for International Comparisons: An Application to National Agricultural Research Expenditures.” Economic Development and Cultural Change Vol. 40, No. 2 (January 1992): 333-349.

World Bank. World Development Indicators 2006 on CD-ROM. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2006.