> 1% Decline in operational parliamentary grant (PG). > External Income growth declining year on year. > Limited funding to fulfill the mandate. - required number of critical vacancies - Equipment - Research and development mandate - Agrarian reform needs - technology transfer - Mitigating agricultural risks > Aging Infrastructure. > Ageing scientific capacity (demographics). > Reduced skills base for recruitment (scientists, engineers & researchers etc). > Urban encroachment - increasing costs of security and competing demands for land use. > Meeting its transformation obligations e.g. 50/50 gender representation. > ICT information systems requiring upgrade. > Insufficient funding (PG and contract income) that may lead to staff lay-offs. 4.2.3 Key Focus Areas