COVID-19 lessons for rebuilding resilient value chains and agri-food system

The COVID-19 pandemic is an important reminder and rationale for investing in resilient value chains and agri-food systems. The pandemic revealed important vulnerabilities in national and global food systems. Although the pandemic continues to ravish national economies, these impacts vary across sectors and value chains. Most sectors and value chains are being (negatively) affected by COVID-related lockdowns and curfews. However, demand for some sectors, services, and value chains has increased because of the pandemic, both globally as well as in the context of Egypt. In the context of Egypt, agriculture proved to be the most resilient component of Egypt’s agri-food system, seeing an estimated increase in output of around EGP 3 billion. On the other hand, services, particularly those involving face-to-face interaction are badly affected. Losses in food processing also were relatively small and were primarily driven by indirect effects, such as reduction in the demand for food by restaurants and hotels. Some food processors may even have benefitted from the COVID‑19 crisis. Similarly, some value chains are disproportionally affected by the pandemic while some likely experienced significant positive demand shocks.

This webinar shed light on global and national lessons from the pandemic for rebuilding resilient value chains and agri-food systems. Speakers presented global and national lessons to inform future food systems and functioning of value chains.