Field Trials - their importance to agriculture in emerging economies Lars Byrdal Kjær Head of Department for Field Trials and Statistics AgroTech

1 field trial is better than 1000 assumptions

(million 2000 international dollars) 1981 1991 2000 Global public agricultural-research spending Expenditure (million 2000 international dollars) 1981 1991 2000 Developing countries 6,904 9,459 12,819 Sub-Saharan Africa 1,196 1,365 1,461 China 1,049 1,733 3,150 Asia and Pacific 3,047 4,847 7,523 Latin America and the Caribbean 1,897 2,107 2,454 Middle East and North Africa 764 1,139 1,382 Developed countries 8,293 10,534 10,191 Total 15,197 19,992 23,010

Indicators on agricultural input   Average Arable Permanent Cropland in 1000 hectares (2000) Agricultural labor % Of total Labor Force (2001) Tractors per 1000 hectares of cropland Average fertilizer use ( kg per ha of cropland) WORLD 1,497,365 44.3 17.6 91.1 EUROPE 305,891 8.4 35.9 72.5 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 176,712 62.0 1.3 11.5 - Denmark 2,289 3.6 53.8 159.9 - Mozambique 4,135 80.3 1.4 3.5 - South Africa 15,712 9.3 4.6 48.2

Land preparation in Africa: 89 % worked manually 1 % worked mechanically 10 % worked by animal traction

Serious problems / huge challenges Investment in research and development in developing countries, particular Sub-Saharan Africa, is decreasing. The richest countries are shifting their focus away from developing productivity enhancing technologies towards biomass production, animal welfare issues and environment. As a result, the technological spillover will decrease leaving the poorest countries in a vacuum.

Serious problems / huge challenges Research and development as well as farmers and advisory organizations are not structured adequately. The infrastructure impedes the development and spread of new technologies. Trade barriers hinder the export of agricultural goods from poor countries to rich countries.

The single most important factor that will increase food productivity is to increase investments in research and field trials.

Research should focus on: New farming systems Growth assurance; sustain soil fertility; fairly high yield; input of fertilizer and pesticides; GMO Development of new equipment and machinery Screening of varieties and development of new varieties with better traits

Basic research Applied research Simple trials /demo Applied knowledge From basic research to applied knowledge University Basic research Sector Research Applied research On-farm trials Simple trials /demo Advisory service Applied knowledge

On-farm trials Low input of equipment and money High input of manpower Early involvement of role-model farmers Feedback to research