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Boon or Bane? Urban Food Security and Online Food Purchasing during the COVID-19 Epidemic in Nanjing, China

Author

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  • Yajia Liang

    (School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Taiyang Zhong

    (School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Jonathan Crush

    (Balsillie School of International Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 6C2, Canada
    Department of Geography, Environment and Tourism, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa)

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between the rapid growth of online food purchasing and household food security during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China using the city of Nanjing as a case study. The paper presents the results of an online survey of 968 households in Nanjing in March 2020 focused on their food purchasing behavior and levels of food security during the early weeks of the pandemic. While online food purchasing has increased rapidly in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, little research attention has been paid to the relationship between online food purchasing and household food security. This paper provides detailed insights into this relationship in China. The medium- and longer-term food security and other consequences of the pandemic pivot to online food purchasing are a fertile area for future research in China and elsewhere.

Suggested Citation

  • Yajia Liang & Taiyang Zhong & Jonathan Crush, 2022. "Boon or Bane? Urban Food Security and Online Food Purchasing during the COVID-19 Epidemic in Nanjing, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:945-:d:842563
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    2. Priyanka Mitra & Yanwu Zhang & Bijon Kumer Mitra & Rajib Shaw, 2023. "Assessment of Impacts and Resilience of Online Food Services in the Post-COVID-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-17, September.

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