South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development sector results and trends: agricultural R&D at a glance 2020/21. Fact sheet 48

Agriculture is central to economic growth, poverty reduction, and food security. Agricultural research and experimental development (R&D) received more attention from investors in recent years. The public sector invested the most in research in the agricultural sciences, predominantly in the science councils. Most of the R&D performed was in crop and pasture production. The overall decline in agricultural R&D in 2020/21, as with all R&D, may be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline was most noticeable in the business sector as a result of national restrictions on economic activity.