Resource Allocation and Productivity in National and International Agricultural Research pdf epub mobi txt 电子书 下载 2026

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出版者:University of Minnesota Press

作者:Thomas M. Arndt

出品人:

页数:0

译者:

出版时间:1977-02-25

价格:USD 60.00

装帧:Paperback

isbn号码:9780816666836

丛书系列:

图书标签:

• 农业研究
• 资源分配
• 生产力
• 国际农业
• 国家农业
• 研究投入
• 农业经济学
• 农业政策
• 研发效率
• 农业创新

Resource Allocation and Productivity in National and International Agricultural Research A Comprehensive Examination of Strategic Investment and Impact Assessment This volume offers a deep dive into the intricate dynamics governing resource allocation and productivity measurement within the global agricultural research ecosystem. Moving beyond simplistic efficiency metrics, the book provides a robust framework for understanding how diverse funding streams, institutional structures, and policy environments shape the outcomes of national agricultural research systems (NARSs) and international agricultural research centers (IARCs). It serves as an essential text for policymakers, research administrators, economists, and practitioners seeking to maximize the societal and economic returns from investments in agricultural science and technology. The foundational premise of this work rests on the recognition that agricultural research—whether focused on yield improvement, climate resilience, water management, or post-harvest technology—is a critical public good whose productivity is inherently difficult to measure but vital to sustain. The complexity arises from long lag times between investment and impact, the spillover effects across geographical and institutional boundaries, and the non-linear relationship between inputs (funds, personnel, infrastructure) and outputs (publications, patents, technology adoption). Part I: Conceptualizing the Resource Landscape The initial section establishes the theoretical and empirical context for agricultural research investment. It begins by dissecting the historical evolution of research priorities, tracing the shift from the Green Revolution paradigm—characterized by intensive, centralized public funding—to the current multi-stakeholder model involving private sector participation, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and increasingly, development banks. A dedicated chapter explores the Economics of Agricultural Research Investment. This moves beyond standard cost-benefit analysis to incorporate modern portfolio theory, examining optimal risk diversification strategies for research portfolios in the face of unpredictable environmental and market shocks. We analyze the concept of "research complementarities," demonstrating how investments in fundamental science (e.g., genomics) amplify the productivity of applied research (e.g., breeding programs) and extension services. Furthermore, the volume critically assesses the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in agricultural innovation, scrutinizing the mechanisms through which public funds can effectively crowd in, rather than crowd out, private sector engagement, particularly in neglected areas like orphan crops or smallholder adaptation strategies. The concept of Institutional Architecture and Efficiency is explored in depth. Agricultural research is decentralized, operating across universities, government ministries, and autonomous research institutes. This section analyzes how governance structures—including appointment processes, funding autonomy, and accountability mechanisms—directly influence researcher incentives and, consequently, productivity. Case studies contrasting highly centralized NARS models with more federated systems provide empirical evidence on the trade-offs between coordination efficiency and responsiveness to local needs. Particular attention is paid to the challenges of coordination in transboundary research initiatives, where national interests often intersect with global public goods objectives. Part II: Measuring Productivity and Impact Measuring the productivity of agricultural research is arguably the greatest methodological challenge addressed in this book. The second part moves systematically through various quantitative and qualitative techniques used to assess research performance, highlighting their limitations and appropriate applications. We begin with an examination of Input-Output Modeling and Efficiency Analysis. This includes a detailed exposition of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) as applied to research systems. The analysis focuses on defining appropriate inputs (staff years, budget allocation across disciplines) and outputs (research papers, germplasm releases, policy briefs). Crucially, the volume addresses the inherent difficulty in standardizing disparate outputs, advocating for the use of composite indices that weigh outputs by their potential developmental relevance rather than merely counting publications. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to Assessing the Economic Impact of Research Outcomes. This involves a thorough review of econometric methods used to estimate the rate of return to agricultural R&D. We explore methodologies for tracing the impact pathway, from laboratory discovery through to farm-level adoption, tackling issues such as spatial autocorrelation in impact estimates and the crucial role of complementary policy environments (e.g., infrastructure, market access) in realizing potential productivity gains. The book presents updated estimates of global returns to agricultural R&D, disaggregated by research domain (e.g., pest management vs. soil fertility) and institutional actor (NARS vs. IARC). Beyond conventional economic metrics, the volume emphasizes the assessment of Non-Market Impacts and Resilience. In an era defined by climate change and environmental degradation, research productivity must also be measured by its contribution to sustainability indicators. This involves developing proxies for measuring research success in enhancing biodiversity conservation, improving water use efficiency, and reducing the carbon footprint of food systems. The chapter provides analytical tools for integrating environmental externalities into traditional productivity calculations, offering a pathway toward genuinely sustainable productivity growth. Part III: Strategic Resource Allocation for Future Challenges The final section synthesizes the analysis to offer actionable recommendations for strategic resource allocation, focusing on emerging global priorities. Prioritization Methodologies for Complex Agendas are introduced, moving beyond simple historical budget allocations. The book details real options analysis and scenario planning as tools for proactively allocating funds toward research areas that offer high potential payoff under uncertain future conditions, such as novel disease outbreaks or extreme weather events. Specific attention is given to the resource requirements needed to bridge the "neglected research gap"—the underfunding of research on low-value, smallholder-grown crops vital for food security in marginal environments. The volume critically evaluates the Global Coordination of Research Resources. It examines the role of CGIAR and other global initiatives in pooling resources to tackle problems too large or complex for any single nation to address (e.g., rust resistance in wheat, adaptation to ocean acidification impacting aquaculture). The analysis contrasts the advantages of centralization for foundational science with the imperative for decentralization in ensuring technology relevance and timely dissemination at the local level. It offers a model for "subsidiarity" in agricultural research funding, determining which levels of governance are best positioned to finance and execute specific research activities. Finally, the book addresses the imperative of Investing in Human Capital and Infrastructure. Productivity gains are ultimately delivered by skilled personnel operating within functional systems. This chapter examines the optimal balance between funding for permanent research staff versus short-term contract employment, and the necessary investment profile for modernizing core research infrastructure—from advanced genomics labs to high-throughput phenotyping facilities—ensuring that systems remain capable of meeting the scientific demands of the 21st century. The conclusion reaffirms that effective resource allocation is not merely about finding the lowest cost inputs, but about strategically aligning financial commitments with institutional capacity and demonstrable pathways to sustainable, productivity-enhancing innovation in agriculture worldwide.

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