Can yield gap analysis be used to inform R&D prioritisation?

The phrase “biggest bang for a buck” is associated with the policy making question that governments and development agencies face: “Where and which crops should receive highest priority for improving local and global food supply?”. A first step of prioritisation is to identify region x crop combinations for which high impact can be anticipated. We developed a new method for this prioritisation exercise and applied it to data from the Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas (GYGA). Our prioritisation distinguishes between two policy objectives (humanitarian and economic) and builds upon the relative yield gap and climate risk. Results of the prioritisation are presented and visualised in Google Earth. •New method for R&D prioritisation was developed.•The method was applied to 5 crops in 23 countries on 5 continents.•5 Yield gap x climate risk groups with different policy recommendation per group.•If the humanitarian objective receives emphasis, Africa is given highest priority.•If the economic objective receives emphasis, South America is given highest priority.