that the layperson can understand. More opportunities are needed that enable the exchange of information among scientists, corporate representatives, policy makers and the public at large. Including members of the public on advisory committees set up to formulate laws, regulations and policies would help ensure that their perspectives are fairly represented (FAO, 2001).

5.4.6 Investment in AKST
Investments in AKST have hugely accelerated growth and reduced poverty in much of the developing world. However, although agricultural productivity improvements have been closely linked to investments in AKST, market failures have led to serious underinvestment. Trade subsidies and national policies that reduce incentives to farmers in developing countries are a disincentive to public and private investment in AKST (World Bank, 2007).      Increasing public and private investment in AKST and strengthening institutions and partnerships with the private sector, farmers and civil society are now essential to bridge the knowledge divides, strengthen user demand for AKST, increase competitiveness, and ensure that the poor participate and benefit. These investments will be even more important in the future, with rapidly changing markets, growing resource scarcity, and greater uncertainty from multiple threats. Ways to increase investments in AKST exist, such as by forming coalitions of producer interests around particular commodities or value chains, to lobby for more public funding and for producers to cofinance AKST. In addition, institutional reforms will be needed to make investing in public AKST more attractive and to make funding more transparent and open to a wider range of research