a. Longer term impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on European agriculture

The longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the European food supply chain may be substantially different than the short-term adaptation of farmers, food processors and retailers. The main consumer preference changes are likely to be linked to greater on-line ordering, home delivery and in-home consumption. The food industry changes will probably be more persistent and of greater magnitude than those on the consumer side, including a preference for production and processing closer to consumption, and greater flexibility in processing. The COVID-19 pandemic will promote greater automation throughout the food chain with automation of combinable crops leading the way because the engineering is more tractable than for fruits and vegetables. The COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a re-emphasis on food production and food security in agricultural policy throughout Europe. That re-emphasis of food security will be strongest in those countries which saw the largest and longest disruption in consumer level food availability. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the European food system, but in the longer run it could also create opportunities for those ready to adapt to the changing realities.