This learning brief presents findings from a review of 21 DeSIRA research and innovation (R&I) projects that have made significant contributions to policy change, to understand how such projects can effectively contribute to policy change in agriculture and natural resource management. This is an important endeavour because influencing policy change is a crucial pathway by which research can contribute to impact. The review found that successful policy influence emerges from long-term “outcome trajectories” - ongoing interactions between diverse actors, knowledge, and institutions in pursuit of a common mission. Projects play important roles in advancing these trajectories.