An important aspect of open science consists of practices that can help assure that research findings are relevant, widely available and known to actors involved in public policy making. This article reflects on the interplay between development economics research and national and international actors involved with the public policy agenda setting, highlighting the role of research in the design and evaluation of public policies, but also in documenting stylized facts that can guide policy and funding priorities. It focuses on such interactions around global public good provision, zooming in on the specific example of international agricultural research and development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.