This new dossier on the CTA S&T knowledge for development website (K4D) includes a series of three lead articles by Johannes Roseboom, Innovation Policy Consultant, The Netherlands. The articles provide a novel perspective on investing in agricultural innovation and responds to the increasing demand for public agricultural research and extension agencies to; measure and document the impact of their activities, define clear performance indicators and monitor the outcomes and improve the relevance of research results. Links to several documentary and on-line resources are also included in the dossier. Compiled and edited by CABI & CTA . Published by CTA. Editor-in-chief, J. Francis, CTA.