Policy Context

Agricultural R&D is one of the priority areas of the BMZ’s special initiative Life without Hunger. Support is mainly channeled through the BMZ’s 15 global research partnerships on food security, and its contribution to CGIAR and the World Vegetable Center.

Due to the evolving global food crisis, food security has been elevated to a key priority, reflected in Life without Hunger. The BMZ has put a focus on strengthening local production through climate-adapted production, crop diversity, regional trade, and storage capacities. In May 2022, Germany co-launched the GAFS in partnership with the World Bank. Germany also recently pledged US$31 million to sustainable food security at the UN Conference on Global Food Systems in July 2023.

Other sub-sectors include agro-ecological approaches, technology transfer, and the support of small-holder farmers. Within the climate action area, priorities include climate adaptation, climate insurance, gender equality, water-resource management, and biodiversity. Germany has committed to increasing international biodiversity finance to EUR1.5 billion ( US$1.6 billion) annually by 2025 and has positioned itself as a leader of biodiversity protection, especially for low- and middle-income countries.

Funding Trends

How is Germany’s bilateral ODA to agricultural R&D evolving?

In 2021, Germany’s bilateral ODA to agricultural R&D was estimated at US$200 million.

Funding Outlook

Agricultural R&D funding from Germany is projected to decrease between 2023-2024. The foci of climate-resilient agricultural practices, food security and climate adaptation may lead to a smaller decrease in agricultural R&D funding compared to the decrease that is expected for overall ODA and agricultural ODA.

How is ODA to agricultural R&D calculated?

The estimations for agricultural R&D funding, both at aggregate and donor-specific level, are the result of a methodology created by SEEK Development and based on data from the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification. Numbers for 2020 and 2021 are projections calculated based on figures for 2017-2019, as well as trends identified through qualitative research.