COVID-19 And Food Security: Global Food Supple Chains Need to Keep Functioning

(United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards) The spread of the novel COVID-19 pandemic has changed the interaction between people and the food system at a drastic speed. At present, some 820 million people around the world are experiencing chronic hunger and of these, 113 million are coping with acute severe food insecurity where any further ‘access to food’ disruptions may pose an immediate threat to their lives or livelihoods.

With border closures, quarantines and market, supply chain and trade disruptions, the global economy is being challenged by a great deal of restrictions. Around 80% of global trade is transported by commercial shipping, which moves the world’s food, energy and raw materials, as well as manufactured goods and components, according to UNCTAD statistics.

On the one hand, people are confronted with access to sufficient and diverse sources of food, especially for those that are already affected by high levels of food insecurity and on the other hand, vulnerable groups such as small-scale farmers and fishers have been hindered from accessing markets to sell their products, or even buy essential inputs to operate their productions. A paradox of global hunger, despite being the food producers themselves, small-scale farmers in the rural areas of developing countries are disproportionately at risk of food insecurity themselves due to their low incomes.

In terms of the movement of food, the obstruction in the food supply chains particularly in fresh food, such as fresh fish and aquatic products that are highly perishable are at risk, as they need to be sold, processed or stored in a relatively limited time. This has led to the accumulation of fresh produces at farms, resulting to food loss and waste – all of which leads to loss of earnings.

Read more at: United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards

Source: CARICOM TODAY