SciDev.net published an article stating that the impacts caused by the pandemic on food production and distribution, especially during the first year, have affected the flow rates of “virtual water”, that is, the water necessary to produce food and other consumer goods. Senior research coordinator Valeria Piñeiro spoke about the problems with the supply chain–logistics, farming, harvesting, transporting, etc. She says, says that COVID-19 has had major impacts on labor and logistics and that each region of the world has been affected differently, according to the implemented policies. Piñeiro points out that perishables, such as fruits, vegetables, and meats, have been impacted differently than grains and other staples for two main reasons. “The first is that social distancing policies have affected work regimes and it has become more difficult to grow food and the second [is] the logistical and air freight difficulties, especially in 2020, and this has been reflected in food prices, impacting diets in Latin America.”
Water and food systems: keys in a post-pandemic world (SciDev.net)
March 02, 2022