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020 _a970-648-104-4
040 _aMX-TxCIM
072 0 _aA50
072 0 _aE50
082 0 4 _a338.91
_bWAT
100 1 _aDiaz Avila, A.F.
_uInternational conference on impacts of agricultural research and development: Why has impact assessment research not made more of a difference?
110 0 _aCentro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Mexico DF (Mexico)
111 2 _aInternational Conference on Impacts of Agricultural Research and Development
_cSan José (Costa Rica)
_d4-7 Feb 2002
245 0 0 _aThe importance of impact assessment studies for the brazilian agricultural research system
260 _aMexico, DF (Mexico)
_bCIMMYT :
_c2003
300 _ap. 75-76
340 _aPrinted
520 _aA significant number of agricultural impact assessment studies have been conducted during the last three decades. These studies have demonstrated the considerable contributions of agricultural research towards improved productivity, profitability, and the sustainability of agribusineses. Brazil is one of the countries where this type of study was frequently utilized. EMBRAPA, a govemment research company, conducts the majority of impact assessment studies in this country. The most frequently posed questions are, how useful is this type of research and how does it impact on agricultural research funding and research institutions themselves? The principal aim of this paper is to present clear evidence that the development and use of impact assessment studies in Brazil predominantly served to strengthen the position of EMBRAPA. Brazilian impact studies began in the early 1980s in response to demands made by Brazilian society, who were interested in the efficacy of significant state investments in agricultural research. Initial studies demonstrated that funding from the national treasury and international loans (IDB and World Bank) invested in infrastructure and human capital in the EMBRAPA's research centers generated high returns. During the next two decades, the Brazilian government continued to invest in EMBRAPA. This allowed the institution to develop a modern, nationwide infrastructure of agricultural research and to adjust the human capital profile dedicated to research activities. In 1974, only 17% of researchers had MSc and PhD degrees. In less than 10 years, this figure changed to 75%. In reality, less than 5% of EMBRAPA's staff lack postgraduate training. Calculated in 1993 dollars, resources allocated to EMBRAPA increased from an average of US$245 million in 1976-80 to more than US$450 million during the 1990s. Continuous public support allowed EMBRAPA to offer competitive salaries, maintain a well-trained research staff, and provide good conditions in which staff could develop their research activities. This context was fundamental for the institution. It enabled a continuous flow of technological outputs that have progressively been integrated into Brazilian agriculture. EMBRAPA was continually asked to demonstrate the efficacy of high state investments. The importance of EMBRAPA's role in the development of agricultural technology has been systematically demonstrated through impact assessment studies conducted by EMBRAPA and other Brazilian research institutions. EMBRAPA has underwritten the validity of its impacts research by stressing the close collaboration of Yale University's International Food Policy Research Institute and the University of Califomia-Davis in the development of impact assessments. The use of foreign researchers, with international experience and using diversified methodological approaches, has played a vital supporting role in EMBRAPA's accountability reports. Evidence to support EMBRAPA's important role in the modernization of the agribusiness sector can also be found in annual progress reports where the role of crop varieties in the seed market and other technologies are clearly shown. Aggregate studies demonstrating the link between agricultural research, increased exports, and agricultural technological change have also been contracted to well known economists with influence over the Brazilian decision- making process. A further kind of impact assessment is the annual social balance. Here, EMBRAPA demonstrates that its technological outputs are also generating social benefits. Another aspect of the EMBRAPA policy is the adoption of an integrated evaluation and award system based on results. All its research centers have been evaluated since 1996. Evaluations are based on economic efficiency (DEA- Data Envelopment Analysis), research funding grants, institutional image, technological impact and research quality. The best teams and employees are awarded annually. As this award is not incorporated into staff salaries and varies according to performance, it has stimulated a general increase in institutional productivity and effectiveness of research centers. Finally, it should be noted that impact assessment studies are still making a difference in EMBRAPA. This is due to the adoption, in the mid-1990s, of an aggressive policy of communication and marketing. Economic, social, and environmental impacts of agricultural research outputs have been effectively communicated to congress and the government and, more recently, to the general public. EMBRAPA's marketing policy clearly recognizes the role of partnerships, state research organizations, universities, CGIAR centers, and the private sector in agricultural technology development. If impact assessment studies are being conducted but are not making a difference, there are two possible explanations-either impact assessments are not being conducted effectively or assessment results are not being communicated effectively to decision-makers. At EMBRAPA, there is strong evidence that impact assessments are important and are making a real difference. They are also strengthening EMBRAPA's institutional image within Brazilian society.
546 _aEnglish
591 _a0310|AGRIS 0301|AL-Economics Program|R01PROCE
593 _aJuan Carlos Mendieta
595 _aCPC
650 1 7 _aAgricultural development
_gAGROVOC
_2
_91002
650 1 0 _aBrazil
650 1 0 _aBusiness management
650 1 7 _aEconomic development
_gAGROVOC
_2
_91089
650 1 0 _aProduction policies
_91221
653 0 _aCIMMYT
650 1 0 _91235
_aResearch institutions
_gAGROVOC
650 1 7 _aAgricultural research
_gAGROVOC
_2
_91006
700 1 _aSilva e Souza, G. da,
_ecoaut.
700 1 _9960
_aWatson, D.J.
_gResearch & Partnership Program
_8INT3479
_eed.
942 _cPRO
999 _c6876
_d6876