The role of social protection measures

As the pandemic has progressed, governments have had to face new challenges. If, in the first stage, countries focused on mitigating the effects of strict sanitary restrictions, over the weeks attention has shifted to an especially serious threat: the economic and social crisis. The forecasts, unfortunately are not encouraging. In this edition of the newsletter we analyze the protection alternatives existing, with special attention in rural areas, which we cannot neglect.

Global emergence of infectious diseases: links with wild meat consumption, ecosystem disruption, habitat degradation and biodiversity loss

This policy brief focuses on the topic of global emergence of infectious diseases and its links with consumption of wild meat, ecosystem disruption, habitat degradation and biodiversity loss. Emerging infectious diseases are a significant and growing threat to global health, economies and security. There is evidence that landscape changes and biodiversity loss are key drivers of the (re-) emergence of infectious diseases. More systematic research is needed to better understand the role of ecosystems in the regulation of diseases. Effective implementation of the One Health approach, promoting coordinated multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary responses, has the potential to reduce disease transmission risks and improve health and well-being of all people, wildlife and livestock. The brief also highlights wild species that continue to be an important source of food, income and cultural identity for millions of indigenous and rural people, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. In many parts of the world, wild meat represents a luxury item. This demand creates markets that are driving hunting of wildlife to unsustainable levels and increases risks of spill-over of wildlife-related pathogens. Reducing demand for wild meat as a luxury good for urban populations – whether in wild meat sourcing or wild meat consuming countries is urgently needed. Finally, the brief proposes a of series of actions that will help to tackle the complex and interrelated issues associated with wildlife habitat disruption, biodiversity loss and the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Contact person: Mette Wilkie, Director, Forestry Policy and Resources Division, FAO

Legal mechanisms to contribute to safe and secured food supply chains in times of COVID-19

This brief identifies some of the areas that governments may want to strengthen to build more resilient food supply chains and illustrates how appropriate regulatory frameworks can contribute to ensuring food security and economic development. As such, it contributes to FAO’s Strategic Objectives on enabling inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems (SO4) and increasing the resilience of livelihoods to disasters (SO5). Further, this brief follows FAO's Legal Office's objective of undertaking research and studies on important and relevant legal topics and provides national governments with expert analysis on the impact of the current emergency on food supply chains and the effective regulatory measures to counter them and build resilience.

Contingency plan for an eventual food supply crisis

If the health and economic crisis triggered by the current pandemic spreads over time, the region as a whole is likely to experience an unprecedented food supply crisis sooner or later. Such a scenario requires that we take the necessary precautions and prepare strategies to deal with a crisis of this magnitude, regardless of whether it eventually happens or not. In this new issue of the newsletter we analyze a contingency plan in the event of a possible crisis in the food supply.

Food systems and COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean

The agrifood sector is key in Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of contribution to the economy and employment generation. Hence, the interruption of food systems normal functioning can have severe consequences on poverty levels and food security. In this new issue of the newsletter we analyze the impacts of COVID-19 in the labour markets in the agrifood system.