This commentary argues that, unlike in most successful countries elsewhere both in the developed and developing world, public agricultural economics research capacity in post-apartheid South Africa is not optimally organized – and therefore not properly geared – to enable relevant and good quality economic research output.  Instead one finds scattered islands of capacity within government – a situation that required concerted attention. It also highlights the role of the NAMC over the past seven years in the provision of evidence-based policy advice to the Minister of Agriculture and other key stakeholders.