Agricultural Research Policy in an Era of Privatization

Late 20th century decades witnessed a dramatic shift from public to private sector funding and execution of agricultural research in many developed countries. Developments in plant breeding and biotechnology, for example, have created profitable opportunities for private investment. However, new issues, such as intellectual property rights, have arisen as a consequence. New demands for public sector research organizations in developing countries and new opportunities to complement private-sector led activities are also transforming the traditional research landscape. This book assesses the implications of these changes and discusses the nature of public-private research partnership. Case studies from a range of countries or regions, including Africa, Australia, China, Latin America and the Netherlands, are presented to illustrate the range of challenges.