Agricultural R&D impact evaluation: Insights from three decades of research impact assessment in agriculture

Abstract Agricultural research and development (R&D) has played a crucial role in improving agricultural productivity, enhancing the resilience of farming system and ensuring food security worldwide. During the last few decades, assessing and understanding the impact of research is of increasing importance in light of the need to provide public research organizations with reliable information on how R&D investments are generating impacts. The culture of R&D impact assessment is indeed still developing, requiring a multifaceted approach to the consideration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions. This paper aims to provide a synthesis of three decades of agricultural research impact assessment at institutional governance level, highlighting its broader implications for the agri-food sector, the lessons learned and future directions.