The ARC was established in 1990 through the Agricultural Research Act 86 of 1990 (as amended by Act 27 of 2001) and is the principal agricultural research institution in South Africa. It is a schedule 3A public entity in terms of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999, (as amended by Act 29 of 1999).

Its core mandate as defined in the Act is to act as the principal agricultural research institution in South Africa so as to conduct research, drive research and development, drive technology development and the transfer (dissemination) of information in order to:

  • Promote agriculture and related industries;

  • Contribute to a better quality of life;

  • Facilitate/ensure natural resource conservation; and 

  • Alleviate poverty

The ARC’s main functions, as provided for in the Act, are to:

  • Undertake and promote research, technology development and technology transfer;

  • Utilise the technological expertise in its possession and make it generally available;

  • Publish information concerning its objectives and functions, and establish facilities for the collection and dissemination of information in connection with research and development;

  • Publish the results of research;

  • Establish and control facilities in the fields of research, technology development and technology transfer that the Council may determine from time to time;

  • Cooperate with departments of state, institutions, persons and other authorities for the promotion and conduct of research, technology development and technology transfer;

  • Promote the training of research workers by means of bursaries or grants-in-aid for research, technology development and technology transfer, and contribute financially;

  • Research, development and technology transfer programmes;

  • Hire or let facilities; and

  • Cooperate with persons and authorities in other countries conducting or promoting research, technology development and technology transfer in agriculture.