COVID-19 highlights the need to plan for healthy, equitable and resilient food systems
Rachel Carey, Maureen Murphy, Leila Alexandra
Abstract
Rising food insecurity during COVID-19 has revealed deep inequities in food systems. The pandemic has also highlighted the vulnerabilities of global food supply chains and the need for cities to increase the resilience of their food systems. The challenge is to harness the lessons of COVID-19 to promote more resilient urban food systems that are also healthy, equitable and sustainable. Policy solutions should focus on robust social protection mechanisms, strong networks of food system actors that can respond rapidly to shocks, and diverse food supply chains that draw on local as well as global sources of food.
Topics & Concepts
Food systemsResilience (materials science)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)BusinessFood supplyFood insecurityFood securityPandemic2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Psychological resilienceEnvironmental planningEconomicsGeographyMedicineVirologyAgricultureAgricultural economicsArchaeologyPsychologyPhysicsThermodynamicsPsychotherapistPathologyOutbreakInfectious disease (medical specialty)DiseaseUrban Agriculture and SustainabilityOrganic Food and AgricultureFood Waste Reduction and Sustainability