The coronavirus and the potential blackout of national statistics: Reorganizing national statistical systems in the context of COVID-19

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, National Statistical Services at country level remain committed to providing their policymakers, their economy and society with the information they require. In many countries, mitigation and contingency plans are put in place, as the situation evolves.

Nevertheless, as the situation continues to deteriorate in low-income countries there is a risk that it could lead to a partial or total blackout of national statistical systems, leaving countries and their international communities blind for data needed for policy-making and the monitoring of national and international development agendas.

Contact Persons: Christophe Duhamel, leader of the survey team and José Rosero Moncayo, Director of the Statistics Division, FAO

Urban food systems and COVID-19

Cities, with their high population density, are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic and many cities in developing countries do not have adequate capacity to address the disruptions caused by the response to the health emergency. The risk is particularly high for the 1.2 billion people living in the congested and overcrowded informal urban settlements where conditions are already unsafe and unhealthy for human living. The very poor and those living in slums have extremely limited access to essential health and sanitation facilities, nutritious food and adequate infrastructure such as piped clean water and electricity. The spread of the virus in crowded cities could have extensive morbidity and mortality consequences for urban populations.

Contact Person: Cecilia Marocchino, Urban Food Systems specialist, Food Systems Programme, FAO

Food Safety in the time of COVID-19

Specific information about the virus responsible for COVID-19 is and remains scant; however, the behaviour and characteristics of the virus can be predicted based on data from similar viruses such as those responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Despite the hypothesis that the virus may have originated in bats and infected another animal used for food, there is no evidence of continued transmission of the virus from animals to humans through the food chain. The application of sound principles of environmental sanitation, personal hygiene and established food safety practices will reduce the likelihood that harmful pathogens will threaten the safety of the food supply, regardless of whether the food is sourced from intensive agriculture, small stakeholders or wildlife.

Contact Person: Jeffrey Lejeune, Food Safety and Quality Officer, Food Safety and Quality Unit, FAO

COVID-19 and smallholder producers’ access to markets

Smallholder producers’ access to markets is also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Immediate impacts tend to be more severe for high-value commodities (perishable products), which are often produced by smallholder farmers. Several countries are putting in place a variety of measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on smallholder producers. This brief builds on lessons learned in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone during the 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic and during the 2007–2008 global food prices volatility crisis.

Contact Person: Adriano Campolina, Senior Policy Officer, Social Policies and Rural Institutions Division, FAO

Integrated agriculture water management and health

This policy brief reviews on going challenges and proposes recommendations on integrated water resources management approach that embraces the value of water in all its forms and recognizes the intrinsic role of water in protecting human, animal and ecosystem health.

This multi-sectoral approach to integrated water resources management under the One Water One Health concept of water recognizes that decisions regarding land and water use have real implications for health. Less-resilient ecosystems, shifts in patterns of disease emergence and spreading, manifest themselves when we fail to recognize this relationship.

Contact Person: Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, FAO