Powering Productivity: Scaling High Impact Bundles of Proven & Emerging Tools

Abstract

Agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) growth is critical for ensuring that agriculture can meet the growing global demand for agricultural products by 2050. However, since 2013, average annual TFP growth has fallen to just 0.7 percent. This requires another upward revision of the target TFP growth rate to 2 percent to achieve sustainable agricultural production. We urgently need to elevate our efforts to accelerate TFP growth annually. While research and development (R&D) remains a vital driver of TFP growth, it is clear that public and private R&D alone will not suffice. The 2024 GAP Report emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between innovation and widespread adoption—referred to as the ‘valley of death'—through the strategic bundling of productivity tools with socio-economic, policy, and distribution mechanisms. This report explores how these bundles, tailored to local contexts and integrated with existing proven tools, can overcome the barriers that prevent farmers from accessing and adopting technologies that drive sustainable productivity growth. From in-depth research to real-world stories, the 2024 GAP Report sheds light on the pathways to unlocking the full potential of TFP growth for the benefit of farmers, society, the environment, and the global economy.