"Food prices are increasing almost everywhere. Disruptions and declines in food production owing to climate extremes are part of the reason,. But our analysis of global spending on the innovations that underpin food production and the processes that get it to people's tables shows major shifts in investment in agricultural science. These could help to explain why demand for food is getting out of balance with supply - and why things are likely to get worse."
"Between 2015 and 2021, the annual average rate of growth in total 'real spending' on agrifood R&D over 6 years was one-third less than it was during the 35 years between 1980 and 2015. (Real spending refers to spending adjusted for differences in the purchasing power of money among countries and over time; see also Supplementary information.) When comparing these two time periods, growth in absolute spending has slowed for more than half of the world's countries."
Food prices are rising globally and climate extremes have reduced and disrupted food production. Global population grew almost 80% from 1980 to 2021, raising food demand. Analysis of agrifood research and development spending for 150 countries from 1980–2021 reveals a marked slowdown in spending growth after 2015: the annual average growth rate from 2015–2021 was one-third lower than the 1980–2015 period. Real agrifood R&D spending growth has slowed or fallen in many countries, with one-third experiencing declines. The balance of funding shifted: private-sector spending rose to match public spending by 2021, and middle-income countries increased their investment shares.
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