Public policy of agricultural research in Brazil

Abstract

Given the importance of research and innovation for the development of Brazilian agriculture, especially after the 1960s, this study aims to historically determine which were the government incentives for investment in agricultural research in Brazil. The following major milestones stand out: the creation of the Brazilian national agricultural research system (SNPA), the role of Embrapa, the role of the state research and technical assistance institutions, and the role of universities and funding institutions. There is also the need for formation of new research institutions in the Central-West and North Regions of Brazil to promote development. Finally, an analysis of the return of investment in agricultural research in Brazil and its impacts on society stands out as an important research agenda, given the scarcity of such studies.