Abstract only

This study develops an empirical model to test the hypothesis that technology spillovers produced by regional research networks can reduce the cost of conducting agricultural research in less developed countries. Furthermore, it examines whether returns to public research are overestimated if the spillovers generated by regional cooperation are not identified. The study focuses on the Regional Maize Program (Spanish acronyrn: PRM), a network of maize breeders in Central America and the Caribbean (CAC). It classifies commercial maize germplasm according to which institutions produced the basic populations, managed the breeding process, undertook adaptive research, and screened the populations. Next, a database on experimental yields was assembled and used in combination with data on technology adoption to: (1) estimate a matrix of potential spillovers; (2) conduct a research impact assessment identifying the incidence of spillovers and; (3) estimate cost-benefit ratios showing the incidence of regional networks. Cost-benefit ratio estimates (CBRs) indicate that ignoring spillovers leads to overestimating national agricultural research systems (NARSs) impacts by a factor of three. The findings also suggest that although NARSs research has had high payoffs, ignoring technology spillovers considerably inflates the benefits from public maize breeding research in CAC. CBR estimates also indicate that the incidence of spillovers is large: only one-third of research impacts come from independent NARSs' research, leaving the rest to spillover. Amongst all institutions, the PRM is the largest contributor of spillovers and its impacts are more important in countries where maize is used for direct human consumption. The cost- benefit ratio indicates that the PRM contributes to reducing research costs and, therefore, to improving research's financial efficiency relative to NARSs' independent research. Finally, results demonstrate that CAC countries have exploited the advantages of specialization and economies of scale in research by participating in the PRM.

Socioeconomics Program

English

0309|R01CIMPU|AGRIS 0301|AL-Economics Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection