Research News

The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) is launching a new funding window for 'Research into Business', aiming to catalyse the private sector's ability to bridge the gap between agricultural research and the small holder farmer.

This is an exciting new initiative funded by DFID's Research and Evidence Division, using challenge funds to leverage private sector funding. This contributes to DFID's White Paper commitment to doubling its investment in AECF.

Research pointing the way to new crop varieties, pest and disease control methods and better irrigation techniques can vastly increase farmers' productivity - but only if the research is put into practice.

Small scale farmers produce most of Africa's food yet are often the hardest to reach with new or existing agricultural technologies.

Alongside government, the private sector has a vital role to play in bridging this gap.

Private sector engagement can model ways to make these technologies profitable for business and more affordable and accessible for the farmer.

The need for this has never been more urgent.

The African population is set to grow from 770 million in 2005 to over a billion by 2050. If everyone in Africa were to have enough to eat in 2050 African farmers would need to double the amount of food they produce within the next 45 years.

In order to meet the challenge of feeding this rapidly expanding population the speedy uptake of agricultural research into business and practice is essential.

Over the next 5 years the Research Into Business initiative will directly benefit 750 000 people, 60% of whom are living on less than $2/day. We predict that the new technologies brought to agribusinesses by this initiative will drive their growth up by 5% every two years.

Visit the AECF Research Into Business website for more information, and for a look at the Virtual Market Place where research institutions can showcase technologies that are ready for uptake by the private sector.