Assessment of global food demand in unexpected situations

Abstract

The methodological approach for assessing the formation of food demand in unforeseen situations using digital Internet-technologies and the assessment itself, is substantiated in the paper (in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020). Comparison and theoretical generalization, as well as statistical test-assessment of hypotheses and structural regularities based on the data of Google Trends Internet platform, is used to analyze consumer preferences and intensity of demand changes for meat, milk, sugar, bread, and flour during the pandemic and quarantine, both in developed and developing countries. It is discovered that the biggest changes can be observed in the developed countries: consumer preferences shifted from rather expensive food products (milk and meat) to much cheaper ones (flour and bread). It is asserted that a decrease in consumer demand for basic food products will have a negative impact on the global economy. In 2020, a considerable decrease in GDP is expected for the developed countries; in the developing countries, GDP decline will not be as large, but prices are expected to rise much more noticeably. The following anti-crisis measures are proposed: support of the most vulnerable population and increase of food accessibility; temporary reduction of the VAT and other taxes influencing the price of food; reduction of central banks’ lending rates, etc. With the correct measures applied, the stabilization of consumer demand for food and gradual growth of the global economy is expected by the end of 2021.

Strengthening the role of local agri-food systems in overcoming the consequences of using food as a weapon in Ukraine

“…Ya. Gadzalo et al (2020), assessing the formation of demand for food in unforeseen situations, determined that the most vulnerable segments of the population will not be able to provide themselves with even cheap food in such conditions and will need state support. Z. Gerasymchuk & L. Gasukha (2021) substantiated the need to ensure all components of food security at the regional level and strengthen the responsibility of local authorities for this task.…”

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“…Ya. Gadzalo et al (2020), assessing the formation of demand for food in unforeseen situations, determined that the most vulnerable segments of the population will not be able to provide themselves with even cheap food in such conditions and will need state support. Z. Gerasymchuk & L. Gasukha (2021) substantiated the need to ensure all components of food security at the regional level and strengthen the responsibility of local authorities for this task.…”

Оцінка Регіональної Продовольчої Безпеки України На Засадах Сталого Розвитку

“…Аналіз останніх досліджень і публікацій. Вагомий теоретичний доробок щодо проблем гарантування продовольчої безпеки широко представлений у працях багатьох вітчизняних вчених, зокрема Я. М. Гадзала, Л. В. Дейнеко, М. П. Сичевського [2], К. В. Копилової, С. Б. Вербицького [3], О. І. Куця [4], В. П. Славова [5], А. Е. Юзефовича [6], Л. О. Ященко [7] та інших вчених.…”