THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SDG 2 – ZERO HUNGER: CHALLENGES TO BALANCE IP PROTECTION WITH FOOD SECURITY

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was a multidimensional situation and an unprecedented global challenge that has far-reaching effects on food security. This article analyses the multipronged effects of COVID-19 on food security, the challenges it has posed, and the immediate responses initiated at the national as well as international level, along with lessons learnt during this unprecedented crisis. All four aspects of food security: physical access, availability, stability, and utilization have been hampered by the pandemic. The research study’s objective is to evaluate how COVID-19 affects food security. The investigation was a global analysis but with a focus on food-insecure countries. This is accomplished by using facts from a range of sources, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2023, and the most recent report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. According to this research, COVID-19 has significantly impacted food supply chains, hunger, global food trade, food prices, nutrient-dense food, and the shortage of agricultural labour. Developing nations are disproportionately affected by the food security issues caused by COVID-19 due to their strong reliance on protecting their food supplies. The outbreak has also highlighted the significance of global collaboration and the necessity of addressing basic problems in global food systems in times of disaster.