Agricultural R&D spend fell in 13 African countries between 2008 and 2011, according to The Atlas of African Agriculture Research and Development published on 30 June. 

The map, produced by the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute, shows that agricultural research investments in many sub-Saharan African countries are “well below the levels required”.

The map also provides an overview of the availability of researchers on the continent. Many African countries have managed to retain good numbers of well-qualified researchers and this is in spite of funding difficulties. However, the map reveals that some of Africa's smallest countries have low and/or declining numbers of researchers.

The full Atlas of African Agriculture Research and Development is featured below and attached for download: