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Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 on the Italian Agri-Food Sector: An Analysis of the Quarter of Pandemic Lockdown and Clues for a Socio-Economic and Territorial Restart

Author

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  • Gianni Barcaccia

    (Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, DAFNAE, Campus of Agripolis, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy)

  • Vincenzo D’Agostino

    (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, TESAF, Campus of Agripolis, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy)

  • Alessandro Zotti

    (Department of Animal Medicine, Productions and Health, MAPS, Campus of Agripolis, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy)

  • Bruno Cozzi

    (Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, BCA, Campus of Agripolis, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Italy)

Abstract

The recent outbreak of a new Coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic with about 10.5 million reported cases and over 500,000 deaths worldwide. Our prospective paper reports an updated analysis of the impact that this pandemic had on the Italian agri-food sector during the national lockdown and discusses why and how this unprecedented economic crisis could be a turning point to deal with the overall sustainability of food and agricultural systems in the frame of the forthcoming European Green Deal. Its introductory part includes a wide-ranging examination of the first quarter of pandemic emergency, with a specific focus on the primary production, to be understood as agriculture (i.e., crops and livestock, and their food products), fisheries, and forestry. The effect on the typical food and wine exports, and the local environment tourism segments is also taken into account in this analysis, because of their old and deep roots into the cultural and historical heritage of the country. The subsequent part of the paper is centered on strategic lines and research networks for an efficient socio-economic and territorial restart, and a faster transition to sustainability in the frame of a circular bio-economy. Particular emphasis is given to the urgent need of investments in research and development concerning agriculture, in terms of not only a fruitful penetration of the agro-tech for a next-generation agri-food era, but also a deeper attention to the natural and environmental resources, including forestry. As for the rest of Europe, Italy demands actions to expand knowledge and strengthen research applied to technology transfer for innovation activities aimed at providing solutions for a climate neutral and resilient society, in reference to primary production to ensure food security and nutrition quality. Our expectation is that science and culture return to play a central role in national society, as their main actors are capable of making a pivotal contribution to renew and restart the whole primary sector and agri-food industry, addressing also social and environmental issues, and so accelerating the transition to sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Gianni Barcaccia & Vincenzo D’Agostino & Alessandro Zotti & Bruno Cozzi, 2020. "Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 on the Italian Agri-Food Sector: An Analysis of the Quarter of Pandemic Lockdown and Clues for a Socio-Economic and Territorial Restart," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-28, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5651-:d:384210
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    2. Idiano D’Adamo, 2023. "The analytic hierarchy process as an innovative way to enable stakeholder engagement for sustainability reporting in the food industry," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(12), pages 15025-15042, December.
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    7. S. Prasanna & Praveen Verma & Suman Bodh, 2025. "The role of food industries in sustainability transition: a review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(7), pages 15113-15133, July.
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    11. 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.
    12. Mutahhar A. Dar & Bartlomiej Gladysz & Aleksander Buczacki, 2021. "Impact of COVID19 on Operational Activities of Manufacturing Organizations—A Case Study and Industry 4.0-Based Survive-Stabilise-Sustainability (3S) Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-28, March.
    13. Murat Cetin & Gonca Yilmaz, 2021. "The Need For A Circular Economy Towards The Danger of The Continuity of Pandemics," Journal of Economic Policy Researches, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 8(2), pages 225-255, July.
    14. Dionysis Bochtis & Lefteris Benos & Maria Lampridi & Vasso Marinoudi & Simon Pearson & Claus G. Sørensen, 2020. "Agricultural Workforce Crisis in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-13, October.
    15. G. Venkatesh, 2022. "Circular Bio-economy—Paradigm for the Future: Systematic Review of Scientific Journal Publications from 2015 to 2021," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 231-279, March.
    16. Oana Bărbulescu & Alina Simona Tecău & Daniel Munteanu & Cristinel Petrişor Constantin, 2021. "Innovation of Startups, the Key to Unlocking Post-Crisis Sustainable Growth in Romanian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.

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