Building back better: How can public food and agricultural research institutions be strengthened and rebuilt after the COVID-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges and new opportunities for publicly funded food and agricultural research in the global South. Spillovers from government and industry research and investment to fight COVID-19 may benefit agricultural research. In view of these opportunities and growing demand, national agricultural research systems—and their funders—may need to rethink research priorities. The future will require a more systemic view of food systems, one that links agriculture, nutrition, and health to prevent future pandemics.