Global food security post COVID-19: Dearth or dwell in the developing world?

Abstract

Today, global food systems are highly susceptible to food safety risks, economic shocks, price volatility, and natural disasters and pandemics, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This paper draws from research on food and nutritional security, food fraud and associated economic ecosystem, and the disruptions due to COVID-19 for socio-economic inequality globally. It is concluded that the safety risks have pushed enforcement of measures to reduce food supplies, adversely impacting food availability. Also, COVID-19 is likely to raise fleeting food security and nutritional concerns across the globe, resulting in rises in poverty and food fraud, limiting food supply and access. Accelerated investments intended to develop more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient food systems will help shrink the effect of the pandemic and, hence, offer a way to control the foreseen food security crisis and economic growth.

FIGURE 1

Prevalence of severe food insecurity (percentage) (Source: Indicator 2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, http://www.fao.org/sustainable‐development‐goals/indicators/212/en/)

FIGURE 2

Monitoring hunger and global food insecurity (Source: Hunger and food insecurity, http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/, FAO. ^*projected food security and nutrition status globally, 2020; ^**projected food security and nutrition status globally in 2030, excluding the COVID‐19 pandemic)