Participation in agricultural research planning can improve the relevance, representativeness, equity insight and ownership of the research process. The different types of participation are reviewed and factors affecting the quality of results are outlined including choice of type of stakeholders and overall strategy of stakeholder involvement. Ways in which participation in agricultural research planning can be improved are identified. The relevance of participation in planning for agricultural research is considered and examples from Morocco, Tanzania and Ivory Coast are cited.

Scenario development is a way of generating relevant information about an uncertain future. Agricultural research organizations may use scenario development in their long term planning processes, particularly where socioeconomic and political conditions appear to be changing. Development and use of alternative scenarios is discussed and their relevance to agricultural research is considered. Examples from the Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research are cited.

The issue of science and technology foresight is addressed. Foresight uses a long time view of the future of science and technology in the global economy and society, seeking to identify and support viable strategies and actions by stakeholders. The way in which science and technology foresight is carried out is detailed and a model of the process is presented. The relevance of science and technology foresight for agricultural research is considered.

Until recently, attention to rice value chain upgrading has been limited in many rice-producing countries of Eastern Africa. Yet, it is this mid-stream section (the millers and traders) – the so-called ‘hidden middle’ – which is essential to sustaining the capacity of rice value chains to contributing to food security in the region, as it fulfils a crucial intermediary role between supply and demand. In this paper, we focus on the role of rice processors as key actors in rice sector development in East Africa along with what challenges and opportunities they face, drawing on primary data generated from surveys and key informant interviews in Ethiopia and Tanzania.

Agricultural research policy is explained and the relevance of agricultural research policy for agricultural research planning is reviewed. Examples of developing country efforts to develop agricultural research policies are cited with particular reference to Benin, Nigeria, Tanzania, Peru and the Netherlands.