FAO’s recommendations on pandemic risks reduction for food security and nutrition

To avoid disruptions in the supply chain and food production, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States is calling countries for make proactive measures.

One of important FAO’s recommendations to mitigate the risks of the pandemic on food security and nutrition is to keep international trade open. Accordingly, to take steps to protect counties’ food supply chain, which are starts from obtaining inputs (such as seeds) and are ends with providing market access to small farmers. FAO also recommend countries to maintain their domestic food supply value chains functioning. In addition, to keep country’s agricultural supply chains alive by any means, at the same time ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who works along the food chain.

International cooperation is key but countries should try to reduce trade-related costs in such ways: to review trade and policy options and their likely impacts; to not impose measures restricting trade and mobility of commodities; to resolve bottlenecks in logistics; to reduce food waste and loss; to reduce temporarily VAT and other taxes; to reduce import tariffs when governments consider it appropriate to minimize.

Avoiding any trade restrictions from worsening local conditions would be beneficial to keep food and agricultural inputs.

Also, policy makers must take care not to tighten food supply conditions accidentally. Moreover, digital technologies are important in smoothing temporary shortages as well as building the resilience of food chains. Those technologies can facilitate the interaction between supply and demand, which would be of great importance for perishable goods such as fruit and vegetables.

You can learn more about COVID-19 pandemic – impact on food and agriculture here.