COVID-19 and Sustainable Food Systems: What Should We Learn Before the Next Emergency

Abstract

Three key transitions leading to a “safe and just” operating space, with a focus on food systems, emerged during the development of a Foresight study promoted by SCAR (Standing Committee on Agricultural Research1): (a) sustainable and healthy diets for all; (b) full circularity in the use of resources; (c) diversity as a key component of stable systems. As consequence of COVID-19, food emerged again as a central element of life, along with health, after decades in which food security was taken for granted, at least in most developed countries. The COVID-19 outbreak offered the opportunity for a reflection on the importance of resilience in emergencies. Sustainable and healthy diets for all, was shown, during the pandemic, to depend much more on social and economic conditions than on technical aspects of food production and processing. Agriculture and the agro-industry have now a potential to absorb, at least temporarily, workers laid out in other sectors; the pandemic could be an opportunity to re-think and re-value labor relationships in the sector as well as local productions and supply chains. A full circularity in food systems also would benefit from stronger links established at the territorial level and increase the attention on the quality of the environment, leading to the adoption of benign practices, regenerating rather than impoverishing natural resources. Diversity is a key component of a resilient system, both in the biophysical sphere and in the social sphere: new business models, new knowledge-sharing networks, new markets. The three transitions would operate in synergy and contribute to the resilience of the whole food system and its preparation for a possible next emergency. Science can support policy making; however, science needs to be better embedded in society, to have a clear direction toward the grand challenges, to address the social, economic, behavioral spheres, to aim clearly at the common good. We need to re-think the conundrum between competition and cooperation in research, devising ways to boost the latter without sacrificing excellence. We need to improve the way knowledge is generated and shared and we need to ensure that information is accessible and unbiased by vested interests.

Eating Habits during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: The Nutritional and Lifestyle Side Effects of the Pandemic

“…In addition to consumers’ behavior changes, the coronavirus crisis is causing many problems and is worsening pre-existing conditions. Many people around the world have lost their jobs and inequalities related to wealth, income level and social protection have exacerbated [ 61 , 62 , 63 ]. Moreover, food insecurity [ 64 ] increased among who have already suffered from poverty in developing countries [ 65 ] but disparities came out also in developed countries [ 66 , 67 ].…”

How COVID-19 Affects Agricultural Food Sales: Based on the Perspective of China’s Agricultural Listed Companies’ Financial Statements

“…Almost all currently known studies on COVID-19 in the agricultural and food sector discuss the adverse effects of COVID-19. However, some scholars have also reported a significant increase in online sales channels of agri-food under COVID-19 [65,66]. We believe that expanding online sales may minimize the impact of COVID-19.…”

“…The poorest groups are most threatened under the impact of the pandemic. Bisoffi et al [65] observed the weakness of the global governance mechanism under the pandemic, Ecological agriculture and food processing industries may be affected by the economic recession caused by the pandemic. Taken together, the pandemic affects agriculture and food in many ways, including but not limited to the following [65]:…”

Appraising Agroecological Urbanism: A Vision for the Future of Sustainable Cities

“…Such efforts are consistent with SDG 11, which calls for cities to be inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Diversification of urban farms is the primary strategy for achieving a sustainable agricultural system in both the biophysical and social spheres [35]. According to Alterie and Nicholls [29], self-sufficiency in vegetables can be achieved at the community or city level if urban farms are redesigned based on an agroecological management.…”

“…Economic slowdowns have been observed in the pandemic's initial epicenters, including China, Europe, and the United States, which have spread to middle-and low-income countries for a variety of reasons, including declines in trade and commodity prices [39]. Under these conditions, it justifies why urban agriculture has emerged as a critical means of addressing local food and nutrition insecurity, particularly through agroecological approaches that benefit smallholder farming systems located in cities, megacities, or megapolises [35,40].…”