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Agroecological producers shortening food chains during Covid-19: opportunities and challenges in Costa Rica

Author

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  • Mary Little

    (School for Field Studies)

  • Olivia Sylvester

    (University for Peace)

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has compounded the global food insecurity crisis, disproportionately affecting the consumers, farmers, and food workers (UN in Policy brief: impacts of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition, 2020, https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/sg_policy_brief_on_covid_impact_on_food_security.pdf ). The significant disruptions caused by Covid-19 have called international attention to food security and sparked conversations about how to better support food production and trade. Our paper contributes to a small but growing literature on the impacts and responses of agroecological farmers to Covid-19 in Costa Rica. Specifically, we interviewed 30 agroecological farmers about (1) livelihood disruptions during Covid-19, (2) the areas of food production and sales most affected during this pandemic, and (3) how farmers and consumers are adapting during this crisis. Our findings reveal multiple impacts on agroecological farmers including: economic hardships of lower incomes and inability to pay loans, changes in purchasing and consumption patterns, market disruptions, changes in sales, a decrease in agrotourism, and a shortage of farmworkers. Furthermore, we also report the following farmer adaptation strategies: (1) minimizing distance with consumers to facilitate direct delivery, (2) establishing e-commerce platforms. Based on our findings, we recommend the following: (1) building farmer networks for knowledge sharing, (2) increasing technological support for farmers, and (3) providing government support to ensure that such crises do not increase unemployment among farmers and exacerbate food insecurity.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary Little & Olivia Sylvester, 2022. "Agroecological producers shortening food chains during Covid-19: opportunities and challenges in Costa Rica," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(3), pages 1133-1140, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:39:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10460-022-10298-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-022-10298-2
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    1. Potira V. Preiss, 2020. "Challenges facing the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: lessons from short food supply systems," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(3), pages 571-572, September.
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    1. Rub?n Dar?o Sep?lveda Vargas & Mar?a Alejandra Taborda Caro & Deivi David Fuentes Doria & Carlos Eduardo Maldonado Casta?eda & Iv?n Dar?o Sep?lveda Calderin, 2023. "Socioecological practices and community resilience strategies for sustainable agriculture in lower Sinú, Colombia," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 25(1), pages 65-91.
    2. Stephanie Louise Godrich & Flavio Macau & Katherine Kent & Johnny Lo & Amanda Devine, 2022. "Food Supply Impacts and Solutions Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Regional Australian Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Vargas, Rubén Darío Sepúlveda & Caro, María Alejandra Taborda & Doria, Deivi David Fuentes & Castañeda, Carlos Eduardo Maldonado & Calderin, Ivan Darío Sepúlveda, 2023. "Socioecological practices and community resilience strategies for sustainable agriculture in lower Sinú, Colombia," Economia agro-alimentare / Food Economy, Italian Society of Agri-food Economics/Società Italiana di Economia Agro-Alimentare (SIEA), vol. 25(1), May.

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