Is the Global Food Supply Chain during the COVID-19 Pandemic Resilient? &amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;A Review Paper

Nasereldin, Yasir A.; Brenya, Robert; Bassey, Anthony Pius; Ibrahim, Ibrahim Elnour; Alnadari, Fawze; Nasiru, Mustapha Muhammad; Ji, Yueqing

doi:10.4236/ojbm.2021.91010

Cited by 27 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The COVID-19 pandemic caused an Anthropause-global human confinement, providing an opportunity to evaluate the impacts of anthropogenic activities and assess the sustainability of systems that underpin human survival and well-being [46]. The pandemic also underlined the vulnerabilities of the world's food systems and food supply chains and has fuelled intense discussions about what constitutes a resilient food system [47].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

et al. 2021

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Emerging information on the interactions between the COVID-19 pandemic and global food systems have highlighted how the pandemic is accentuating food crises across Africa. Less clear, however, are how the impacts differ between farming systems. Drawing on 50 key informant interviews with farmers, village leaders and extension officers in South Africa and Tanzania, we identify the effects of COVID-19 and associated measures to curb the spread of the disease on farming production systems, the coping mechanisms adopted by farmers, and explore their longer-term plans for adaptation. We focus on a diverse range of production systems, from small-scale mixed farming systems in Tanzania to large-scale corporate farms in South Africa. Our findings highlight how COVID-19 restrictions have interrupted the supply chains of agricultural inputs and commodities, increasing the storage time for produce, decreasing income and purchasing power, and reducing labour availability. Farmers’ responses were heterogeneous, with highly diverse small-scale farming systems and those less engaged with international markets least affected by the associated COVID-19 measures. Large-scale farmers were most able to access capital to buffer short-term impacts, whereas smaller-scale farms shared labour, diversified to subsistence produce and sold assets. However, compounded shocks, such as recent extreme climate events, limited the available coping options, particularly for smaller-scale and emerging farmers. The study highlights the need to understand the characteristics of farm systems to better equip and support farmers, particularly in contexts of uncertainty. We propose that policy actions should focus on (i) providing temporary relief and social support and protection to financially vulnerable stakeholders, (ii) job assurance for farmworkers and engaging an alternative workforce in farming, (iii) investing in farming infrastructure, such as storage facilities, digital communication tools and extension services, and (iv) supporting diversified agroecological farming systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

et al. 2021

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“…Cultivating authentic local opportunities for direct food sales : Government incentives and reduced red tape to support local food distribution and promotion, such as managing e-commerce platforms for farmers and provision of support programs which reduce business adaptation challenges [ 30 ], as well as tax relief [ 34 ]. Additionally, increase access points for locally grown food [ 24 ] and provide educational opportunities for farmers to upskill to sell their products online [ 30 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Supply Impacts and Solutions Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Regional Australian Case Study

Godrich

Macau

Kent

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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This study aimed to explore how food supply chains were impacted by COVID-19 and identify how the region could be better prepared for future crises. An online survey was completed by 107 consumers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 food supply stakeholders working in food production, distribution, retail, hospitality, institutions (i.e., childcare), logistics/freight and local government. Pre-COVID-19, farmer-direct distribution options and hospitality businesses comprised a substantial proportion of local food producer businesses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers favoured local food supply options, farmers collaborated, and produce usually destined for export was redirected into local markets. Critical food supply actions included keeping borders open to food freight, enhancing social capital through real-time business communication, and business flexibility. Solutions included business adaptation, for example, farmers selling produce boxes and hospitality businesses selling excess stock, COVID-safe delivery, and collaboration through digital networks. To better prepare the region for future crises, actions to support communities could include a community approach to agriculture, increasing food supply diversity, facilitating transport to aid food distribution and purchasing, and more effective messaging to discourage panic buying. Actions to support retailers could include increasing access to wholesalers through online platforms. Actions to support producers could include improving infrastructure, such as more regional distribution facilities.

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“…The COVID-19 pandemic caused the food and agricultural sector to experience a negative downturn with an immense labor loss [35]. Labor loss prevented agricultural activities and affected supply chains.…”

Section: Impacts Of the Pandemic On Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

Transformation of the Food Sector: Security and Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Boyacι-Gündüz

Ibrahim

Wei

et al. 2021

Foods

149

105

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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a new era in the efficacy of the food supply chain, while the consequences of this new era on humanity, the economy, and the food sector are still under examination. For example, food security is one vital aspect of food systems which is directly affected. This review summarizes food security during epidemics and pandemics before moving on to panic buying, food shortages, and price spikes observed during the current crisis. The importance of food resilience, together with the need for addressing issues related to food loss and food waste, is underlined in the review towards food security and sustainable development. As a result, the pandemic has shown that our food systems are fragile. Since the global population and urbanization will grow in the coming decades, pandemics will likely occur more often, and climate change will intensify. Consequently, there is a need to ensure that our food systems become more sustainable and resilient. To that end, we have highlighted the need to develop contingency plans and mitigation strategies that would allow a more rapid response to extreme events (e.g., disasters from climate change) and transform the food sector by making it more resilient.

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Is the Global Food Supply Chain during the COVID-19 Pandemic Resilient? <br/>A Review Paper

Cited by 27 publications

References 37 publications

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

Food Supply Impacts and Solutions Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Regional Australian Case Study

Transformation of the Food Sector: Security and Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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