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COVID-19 and Pacific food system resilience: opportunities to build a robust response

Author

Listed:
  • Penny Farrell

    (Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney)

  • Anne Marie Thow

    (Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney)

  • Jillian Tutuo Wate

    (WorldFish)

  • Nichol Nonga

    (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO))

  • Penina Vatucawaqa

    (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO))

  • Tom Brewer

    (University of Wollongong)

  • Michael K. Sharp

    (University of Wollongong
    Pacific Community)

  • Anna Farmery

    (University of Wollongong)

  • Helen Trevena

    (Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney)

  • Erica Reeve

    (Deakin University)

  • Hampus Eriksson

    (WorldFish
    University of Wollongong)

  • Itziar Gonzalez

    (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO))

  • Georgina Mulcahy

    (Menzies Centre for Health Policy, Level 2, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney)

  • Jacob G. Eurich

    (University of California Santa Barbara
    University of California)

  • Neil L. Andrew

    (University of Wollongong)

Abstract

The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of the Pacific food system to externalities and has had far-reaching impacts, despite the small number of COVID-19 cases recorded thus far. Measures adopted to mitigate risk from the pandemic have had severe impacts on tourism, remittances, and international trade, among other aspects of the political economy of the region, and are thus impacting on food systems, food security and livelihoods. Of particular concern will be the interplay between loss of incomes and the availability and affordability of local and imported foods. In this paper, we examine some of the key pathways of impact on food systems, and identify opportunities to strengthen Pacific food systems during these challenging times. The great diversity among Pacific Island Countries and Territories in their economies, societies, and agricultural potential will be an important guide to planning interventions and developing scenarios of alternative futures. Bolstering regional production and intraregional trade in a currently import-dependent region could strengthen the regional economy, and provide the health benefits of consuming locally produced and harvested fresh foods – as well as decreasing reliance on global supply chains. However, significant production, processing, and storage challenges remain and would need to be consistently overcome to influence a move away from shelf-stable foods, particularly during periods when human movement is restricted and during post-disaster recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Penny Farrell & Anne Marie Thow & Jillian Tutuo Wate & Nichol Nonga & Penina Vatucawaqa & Tom Brewer & Michael K. Sharp & Anna Farmery & Helen Trevena & Erica Reeve & Hampus Eriksson & Itziar Gonzalez, 2020. "COVID-19 and Pacific food system resilience: opportunities to build a robust response," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(4), pages 783-791, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:12:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s12571-020-01087-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-020-01087-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Genia Hill & Rachel Friedman & Paul Dargusch, 2022. "Food Systems Development: The Necessary Paradigm Shift for a Healthy and Sustainable Agrarian Transition, a Case Study from Bougainville, Papua New Guinea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Bekhzod EGAMBERDIEV, 2021. "Household Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic From A Development Economics Perspective - A Review," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(1), pages 15-30, June.
    4. Iese, Viliamu & Wairiu, Morgan & Hickey, Gordon M. & Ugalde, David & Hinge Salili, Diana & Walenenea, John & Tabe, Tammy & Keremama, Milton & Teva, Chris & Navunicagi, Otto & Fesaitu, Jioje & Tigona, , 2021. "Impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems in Pacific Island countries (PICs): Evidence from communities in Fiji and Solomon Islands," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    5. Taiyang Zhong & Jonathan Crush & Zhenzhong Si & Steffanie Scott, 2022. "Emergency food supplies and food security in Wuhan and Nanjing, China, during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from a field survey," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(3), May.
    6. Yanqi Xie & Apurbo Sarkar & Md. Shakhawat Hossain & Ahmed Khairul Hasan & Xianli Xia, 2021. "Determinants of Farmers’ Confidence in Agricultural Production Recovery during the Early Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-22, October.
    7. Ariane Voglhuber-Slavinsky & Hartmut Derler & Björn Moller & Ewa Dönitz & Enno Bahrs & Simon Berner, 2021. "Measures to Increase Local Food Supply in the Context of European Framework Scenarios for the Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-22, September.
    8. Celia McMichael & Teresia Powell, 2021. "Planned Relocation and Health: A Case Study from Fiji," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Brenda Cardoso & Luiza Cunha & Adriana Leiras & Paulo Gonçalves & Hugo Yoshizaki & Irineu de Brito Junior & Frederico Pedroso, 2021. "Causal Impacts of Epidemics and Pandemics on Food Supply Chains: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-28, August.
    10. G. M. Monirul Alam & Md Nazirul Islam Sarker & Marcel Gatto & Humnath Bhandari & Diego Naziri, 2022. "Impacts of COVID-19 on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in Developing Countries and Ways Forward," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-13, January.
    11. Davila, Federico & Bourke, R.M. & McWilliam, Andrew & Crimp, Steven & Robins, Lisa & van Wensveen, Monica & Alders, Robyn G. & Butler, James R.A., 2021. "COVID-19 and food systems in Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste: Opportunities for actions towards the sustainable development goals," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    12. Fang, Peixun & Belton, Ben & Zhang, Xiaobo & Ei Win, Hnin, 2021. "Impacts of COVID-19 on Myanmar's chicken and egg sector, with implications for the sustainable development goals," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    13. Agamile, Peter, 2021. "COVID-19 lockdown and exposure of households to food insecurity in Uganda: insights from a high frequency phone survey," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313950, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    14. Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan, 2021. "Impact of COVID on Food Consumption, Job Loss and Income: Empirical Evidence from Rural Households in Eastern India," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315897, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Haisheng Hu & Keshuai Xu, 2022. "Visualizing the Development of Research on Tourism Resilience With Mixed Methods," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    16. Huidan Xue & Yujia Zhai & Wen-Hao Su & Ziling He, 2023. "Governance and Actions for Resilient Urban Food Systems in the Era of COVID-19: Lessons and Challenges in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, August.
    17. Tomas Baležentis & Mangirdas Morkūnas & Agnė Žičkienė & Artiom Volkov & Erika Ribašauskienė & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2021. "Policies for Rapid Mitigation of the Crisis’ Effects on Agricultural Supply Chains: A Multi-Criteria Decision Support System with Monte Carlo Simulation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-31, October.
    18. Elizabeth Opiyo Onyango & Jonathan Crush & Samuel Owuor, 2021. "Preparing for COVID-19: Household food insecurity and vulnerability to shocks in Nairobi, Kenya," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-15, November.
    19. Simona Zollet & Luca Colombo & Paola De Meo & Davide Marino & Steven R. McGreevy & Nora McKeon & Simona Tarra, 2021. "Towards Territorially Embedded, Equitable and Resilient Food Systems? Insights from Grassroots Responses to COVID-19 in Italy and the City Region of Rome," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-24, February.
    20. Khan, Syed Abdul Rehman & Razzaq, Asif & Yu, Zhang & Shah, Adeel & Sharif, Arshian & Janjua, Laeeq, 2022. "Disruption in food supply chain and undernourishment challenges: An empirical study in the context of Asian countries," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).
    21. Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso & Saidat Adebola Daud & Oluwadara Pelumi Omotayo & Babatunde Afeez Adeniyi, 2022. "Rising Food Prices and Farming Households Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Policy Implications from SouthWest Nigeria," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, March.
    22. Rosario Michel-Villarreal & Eliseo Luis Vilalta-Perdomo & Maurizio Canavari & Martin Hingley, 2021. "Resilience and Digitalization in Short Food Supply Chains: A Case Study Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-23, May.

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