The coronavirus pandemic has significantly changed the world and influenced every aspect of modern life. Such words as “lockdown”, “crisis”, and “death toll” became the most used ones. The food crisis is not a new phenomenon. Hunger has always been accompanying humanity, but the situation has worsened amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The US has been actively supporting starving countries. However, it will hardly be able to save the whole world. First of all, the US has to protect its nation from the rapidly spreading virus. Nevertheless, any help is always welcomed. According to the estimates provided by the US Department of Agriculture, in 2021, over one billion people from 76 countries will face a food crisis. The number of hungry people may jump threefold to about 3 million.
Contemporary food systems are complex and interconnected networks. During the crisis, participants of the system reduced the level of food stocks in retail outlets in order to save money. They were planning to buy food when it would be necessary. However, an unexpected jump in demand led to a quick depletion of stocks, forcing the food system to look for new solutions to eliminate the deficit. Thus, the crisis unveiled grave disadvantages of the modern food model.
In fact, dropping income and rising unemployment are the main reasons for hunger. These factors have been forcing people to save on food. Even not very poor people will have to reduce their spending on nourishment. Consumers are likely to change their ration and choose cheaper products.
As usual, Africa and Asia will be hit more than other regions. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia are expected to suffer the most severe food crisis. Acute food shortages are already observed in Yemen, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo where 80% of the population is undernourished. Hungry people are angry. That is why starvation often carries the risk of political instability.
