Towards a framework for justifying public agricultural R&D: the example of UK agricultural research policy

Abstract

Changes to the UK agricultural research service (ARS) have questioned the role and purpose of publicly funded agricultural research and development (R&D). However, traditional methods of assessment seem inadequate when analysing the diversity of agricultural R&D. This paper criticises the traditional arguments for the public support of an agricultural research system and forwards a more dynamic means to assessing agricultural research in the public sector. Overall, areas of public-good-enhancing R&D carry strong support, whereas more traditional areas of productivity-enhancing R&D, are questioned in terms of continued expenditure. Finally, these findings are contrasted against UK government support for agricultural R&D and reveals a divergence between theory and policy that should be recorrected in light of recent reductions in research budgets.