COVID-19 and food supply chain: status and outlook

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on all areas of human life due to the isolation and social distancing measures taken by different governments to stop it from spreading. The food supply chain is complex and all levels were affected, from the field to the consumer, especially in countries with fewer economic resources. In Paraguay, workers linked to the food supply chain have been considered essential;and therefore their work has not stopped, this has helped to ensure that to date there has been no food shortage. In view of the above, the question arises: has the food production chain been affected? How? How have workers in the food production chain been affected? It has been mentioned that the resilience of the chain is necessary. However, in addition to this, governments must take measures that ensure not only the health of workers who are part of the production, industrialization, distribution, and sale of food, but also have an obligation to guarantee that the food products are safe and of sufficient quality.