The COVID-19 outbreak has severely affected the global population by causing destructive outcomes to numerous aspects of our society. Many regions marked high numbers of victims, along with Africa, South Asia and Latin America, accounting for one of the largest global health crises after the Second World War. The incidents of this pandemic are constantly rising and it is necessary to establish proper measures in order to avoid a potential escalation to a global food crisis. The restrictions of movement of people and products, along with the disruptions of supply chains and trade, can result in food and nutrition insecurity, mostly to vulnerable population groups like children, women and elderly. In addition, a mismanagement of the situation is highly possible to lead to global food price spikes and volatility, just like the case of Ebola, avian influenza and the 2008 food price crisis did in the past.
Currently there are food and nutrition security challenges, particularly in developing countries of Africa, South Asia and Latin America, as more than 820 million people suffer from hunger including children that lack proper food and nutrition. Following the incidents of the last five years, many countries have developed such insecurities due to conflicts, refugee crisis, climate change and so on, especially in the area of Middle East and Sub-Sahara. COVID-19 is the icing on the cake, as it slows down the economy, reduces food production due to lack of inputs and labor, and disrupts food supply chains and trade. Such economic impact is not restricted to one area, but it is spilling across countries, causing the maximum possible damage.
The crisis seems more devastating in developing countries, because firstly, they lack data in tracking and monitoring hunger and poverty, and at the same time they use different measures to deal with the problem, and secondly, they don’t have the adequate capacity to protect their citizens during such a tremendous pandemic. The majority of the food-insecure population has been identified in Africa.
Comparing circumstances from previous crises outbreaks can be an indicator for future management of food and nutrition security. Mistakes that have been made in the past should not be repeated and thus an examination of similar cases could reveal important tips towards a better and comprehended solution. When the Ebola epidemic appeared in Africa, it resulted in a negative impact on agricultural production by affecting the local food supply in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Regions that account for the main producers of food and cash crops were severely affected, a number of people forced to leave their towns and others to stay quarantined, a fact that led to missing crucial seasons of crop cultivation and labor shortages, and thus a decline in agricultural production, along with higher food prices. Furthermore, since the transportation was disrupted, the local producers were struggling to sell their products and as a consequence their income was reduced as well. The overall disruption of trade led to unbearable imports, while the quarantine measures spread panic among citizens and pushed the food prices up to 24%. Obviously, the entire national economy was bleeding, as the unemployment rate was increased and the level of severe insecurity reached up to 1.2 million people.
Looking back to the 2008 food price crisis, it is essential to note that export bans can increase food prices and result in volatility. Panic was an inhibiting factor, accompanied with pressure to protect the domestic supply, leading to restrictions posed by the rice exporters (India, Vietnam, etc.) and finally to rise of rice price from $300 to $1.200 per ton. Similar export restrictions and bans are occurring right now, due to potential supply shortages and panic, although COVID-19 pandemic may last a longer period, affecting nutrition security brutally.
Conclusion and Suggestions
Since the pandemic seems to last for a long time, it is vital to adapt and balance movement control with policy initiatives to deal with food and nutrition security challenges, especially in vulnerable groups. Such policies should provide access to food by supporting incomes, stimulating trade and facilitating supply chains, in order to raise the levels of availability of food.
Programmes that can aid through cash transfers and safety nets, such as already existing ones, are necessary to be supported by international financial institutions. Entities like the EU and other international powerful actors can contribute to these safety nets and reinforce the poor countries’ economies.
Furthermore, social safety nets and food programmes should focus on both quality and quantity of food, and following a gender based logic, as the women are likely to suffer more adverse impacts.
Another issue to be confronted is the reinforcement of food supply chains in order to become more resilient. China’s example regarding the food supply chains during post-lockdown limitations is quite positive. Also, there are social programmes and NGO activities, along with innovations and entrepreneurship in private food supply chains that overcome government restrictions and facilitate resilience. For instance, the use of ICT and e-commerce emerged during the pandemic.
It is obvious that food and nutrition security has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the latter has arised more challenges to existing ones. The humanitarian aid, supported by powerful international actors and institutions, is absolutely vital, as the governments of developing countries lack the capabilities and resources to confront the imposed challenges, along with the pandemic. Concerning the management of COVID-19, previous cases of significant crises can teach us a lesson, based on behaviours and practices to adopt or to avoid, in order to achieve a smoother transition from crisis to stability.
References
- Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) (2014), ACAPS Briefing Note: Ebola Impact on Protection, Geneva http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/b-acaps_bn_ebola_west_africa_impact_protection_14_oct_2014.pdf.
- Bloomberg (2020), https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/countries-arestarting-to-hoard-food-threatening-global-trade.
- Bowles, J. (2016) “Ebola, jobs and economic activity in liberia”, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Vol. 70 No. 3, pp. 271-277,
DOI: 10.1136/jech-2015-205959. - Fan, S., Si, W., & Zhang, Y. (2020). How to prevent a global food and nutrition security crisis under COVID-19? China Agricultural Economic Review, Vol.12(No.3), pp. 471-480.
DOI 10.1108/CAER-04-2020-0065 - Fan, S. (2016), “Food policy in 2015-2016: reshaping the global food system for sustainable development”, 2016 Global Food Policy Report, Chapter 1, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC, pp. 1-11.
http://ebrary.ifpri.org/cdm /ref/collection/p15738coll2/id/130209. - FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO (2019), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2019. Safeguarding against Economic Slowdowns and Downturns, FAO, Rome.
- Headey, D. and Ruel, M. (2020), The COVID-19 Nutrition Crisis: What to Expect and How to Protect.
https://www.ifpri.org/blog/covid-19-nutrition-crisis-what-expect-and-how-protect. - IFPRI (2020), COVID-19 Food Trade Policy Tracker, https://www.ifpri.org/project/covid19-food-trade-policy-tracker. IMF (2020),
- Swinnen J. and McDermott J.(2020), Covid-19 and Global Food Security, Euro Choices, Vol.19, No.3, pp.26-33.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1746-692X.12288 - World Economic Outlook, April 2020,
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/ WEO/Issues/2020/04/14/weo-april-2020. - WHO (2020), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report–108, https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200507covid-19-sitrep-108.pdf? sfvrsn544cc8ed8_2.
- WHO (2020), Global Health Observatory Data https://www.who.int/gho/childmalnutrition/en/
By The European Institute for International Law and International Relations.
