Miller Magazine Issue: 126 June 2020

50 51 COVER STORY COVER STORY MILLER / JUNE 2020 MILLER / JUNE 2020 To contain the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world have implemented measures, including a severe reduction in the transportation of goods, services that rely on transport, as well as migration of labour domestically and internationally. Workers are less available reflecting both disruptions in transportation systems and restrictions to stop the transmission of the disease, within and across borders. These factors induce overall disruptions in the logis- tics of the food supply chains, impeding the shipment of food and agricultural inputs, threatening food security and nutrition, particu- larly for the most vulnerable population segments. Logistics in food value chains includes all activities that enable the flow of agriculture inputs, outputs, and agriculture-related services, such as transportation, warehousing, procurement, packaging and inventory management. The efficacy of logistics is critical for the In order to avoid food shortages, it is im- perative that countries keep the food sup- ply chains going. Unlike the 2007-2008 global food crisis, scarcity is not an issue this time. The supply of staple commod- ities is functioning well, and the crops need to be transported to where they are needed most. Restricting trade is not only unnecessary, it would hurt producers and consumers and even create panic in the markets. As countries combat the corona- virus pandemic, they must also make every effort to keep the gears of their food sup- ply chains moving. BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE VALUE CHAIN IN FOOD PRODUCTION