Barriers to Commercializing Agri-Food Innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping Review of Institutional Silos and the "Valley of Death"—Evidence from Ghana GCIC early-stage financing shortfall
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65582/rrs.2026.014Keywords:
Triple Helix Framework, Research Commercialization, Agri-food Innovation, Institutional Silos, Valley of Death, Blended Finance, Gender-inclusive Innovation, Ghana, Sub-Saharan AfricaAbstract
Despite significant investment in agri-food research and development (R&D) across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the transition of innovations from laboratory to market remains stifled by the 'Valley of Death' (OECD 2013). This systematic scoping review reviews institutional barriers to commercialization, including institutional silos, fragmented intellectual property (IP) frameworks, and prohibitive financing gaps, drawing on 95 sources (2010–2026) from academic databases and grey literature (Popay et al. 2006; Page et al. 2021). Using Ghana's Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) as an exemplar (UNU-INRA 2016), the study finds that institutional silos contribute approximately 68% to low commercialization rates (10–15% in SSA versus >50% in OECD economies), with IP deficits and financing shortfalls contributing significant percentages to the commercialization gap. These effects are overlapping and non-additive. To address these bottlenecks, we propose the Resilient Helix Bridge (RHB) Model—an evolution of the Triple Helix framework (Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff 2000) that integrates digital technology transfer offices, blended finance mechanisms, and gender/youth inclusivity as a functional pillar (Aceli Africa 2024; GIZ 2024). Scenario-based projections suggest that coordinated implementation of the RHB Model could raise commercialization rates from current stagnation toward 25–35% by 2030, contingent on institutional, legal, and financial reforms (Atal Innovation Mission 2024; EIB 2024). This study provides critical insights for policymakers, private investors, and research institutions seeking to catalyze sustainable agri-food systems in SSA.
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