Maintaining a healthy diet during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing many changes in the daily lives of people around the world, but there are things that can be done to maintain a healthy lifestyle in these difficult times. Everyone is encouraged to follow World Health Organization (WHO) guidance and governmental advice to protect against COVID-19 infection and transmission. Physical distancing and good hygiene are the best protection for yourself and others against COVID-19.

Good nutrition is very important before during and after an infection. While no foods or dietary supplements can prevent COVID-19 infection, maintaining a healthy diet is an important part of supporting a strong immune system. Find more recommendations and information in this brief.

Contact Person:  Fatima Hachem, Senior Officer, Nutrition and Food Systems Division, FAO

Agri-food markets and trade policy in the time of COVID-19

The policy brief highlights that policy measures should aim to address actual rather than perceived demand and supply disruptions, and that enhanced market transparency, and coordination with trading partners is critical in this regard. It is noted that experiences from past crises have demonstrated that avoiding certain trade-restrictive measures can be equally important to more direct forms of supporting consumers and producers. In this context, following international guidelines on safe travel and trade corridors can help keep agri-food supply chains functional, mitigate food supply disruptions, and promote food security.

Contact Person: Boubaker Ben-Belhassen, Director, Trade and Markets Division, FAO

Ample supplies to help shield food markets from the COVID-19 crisis

The Cereal Supply and Demand Brief provides an up-to-date perspective of the world cereal market. The monthly brief is supplemented by a detailed assessment of cereal production as well as supply and demand conditions by country and region in the quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation.

Contact Person: Abdolreza Abbassian, Senior Economist, Trade and Markets Division, FAO

Anticipating the impacts of COVID-19 in humanitarian and food crisis contexts

While the COVID-19 pandemic is devastating lives, public health systems, livelihoods and economies all over the world, populations living in food crisis contexts are particularly exposed to its effects.

Countries with existing humanitarian crises are particularly exposed to the effects of the pandemic. The effects could be even stronger in countries that are already facing exceptional emergencies with direct consequences for the agricultural sectors.

Lessons learned from previous crises should inform policy and action today, providing an example for the development of appropriate policy measures.

Contact Persons: Dunja Dujanovic, Team Leader Early Warning Early Action, Agricultural Development Economics Division, FAO and Luca Russo, Senior Food Crises Analyst and Strategic Advisor, FAO Strategic Programme to increase the resilience of livelihoods and threats to crises (SP5)

Responding to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on food value chains through efficient logistics

Measures implemented around the world to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have entailed a severe reduction not only in the transportation of goods and services that rely on transport, but also in the migration of labour domestically and internationally. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) urges countries to maintain functioning food value chains to avoid food shortages, following practices that are being proven to work. 

Contact Persons: Siobhan Kelly, Agribusiness Officer, FAO Strategic Programme to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, and Florence Tartanac, Senior Officer, Nutrition and Food Systems Division, FAO