Addressing barriers to innovation by agribusiness to drive growth in South Africa

Abstract

This policy brief interrogates trends from a survey of commercial agricultural businesses, including farming, forestry and fisheries enterprises, to inform policy implementation insights. The evidence indicates that resource, knowledge and market factors play a key role in creating an enabling environment for innovation in the agribusiness industry. Therefore, policy interventions that target these factors can support pathways to overcome innovation constraints. On this basis, the policy brief makes a call to the government and policy makers at national, provincial, local and regional levels to develop policies that are responsive to key barriers and may improve innovation performance along the agribusiness value chain.