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THIRD WORLD NETWORK INFORMATION SERVICE ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Dear Friends and Colleagues Agroecological Family Farm Initiatives Built Food Resilience During Covid-19 in Latin America In Latin America, the sector associated with family farming and the agroecology movements reacted early at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, deploying new ways of producing and marketing food to cope with the crisis. Research to assess the nature and extent of the early initiatives in several countries of the region found that the agroecology movement contributed organizational and capacity development among producers and consumers. New producer-consumer partnerships and short food chains emerged that bring benefits beyond COVID-19 adaptation. Four major types of initiatives were deployed or adapted in response to COVID-19: (1) direct producer-to-consumer food sales; (2) short value chains that linked rural and urban organisations and individuals; (3) newly developed support and training programs on sustainable food production for self-consumption or local commerce; and (4) food assistance and aid initiatives focusing on vulnerable populations. The analysis also revealed some key characteristics of local food systems that were essential to overcome crisis: (1) pre-existing social organizations and institutions (for example, the agroecological movement, farmers unions, consumer organizations, etc.) and capacity to face and re-orient themselves in time of crisis; (2) operation of alternative market channels that could respond to restrictions and security protocols imposed by the pandemic (e.g., fresh local markets, online sales, food delivery, etc.); (3) the role that social networks and online tools can play in connecting people (producers and consumers, networks, short value chains, etc.); (4) support from governments, ranging from the local to the national level, for existing initiatives related to family farming and agroecology; (5) increasing awareness and participation of urban consumers in local food systems. The pandemic has clearly highlighted the key role played by local food systems and value chains, and the need to strengthen them through public policies as a way to build food resilience in times of crisis and beyond. With best wishes, Third
World Network - By
P. Tittonell et al. ABSTRACT Context In Latin America, the so-called informal sector associated with family farming and the agroecology movements were instrumental at coping with and adapting to the COVID-19 challenges. Objective To assess the nature and extent of the early initiatives (first three months) deployed by this informal sector to cope with and adapt to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food production and consumption in several countries of the region. Methods We used key used informant consultation (n = 168), an online survey (n = 125) and the detailed characterisation of regional case studies (n = 4). Textual data was analysed and categorised using Reinerts method, combined with similarity analysis. Results and Conclusions 65% of the initiatives were local in terms of geographic reach, 30% of them started within the first month after the pandemic and most of them were urban or urban-rural, whereas only 29% of them were exclusively rural. The analysis of the textual information captured through the survey revealed four major types of initiatives that were deployed or adapted in response to COVID-19:
Significance The pandemic highlighted the key role played by local food systems and value chains and the need to strengthening them through public policies, as a way to build food resilience in times of crisis. Graphical abstract Responses to the COVID-19 crisis from family farming in Latin America. Photos from the initiatives were provided by the survey respondents with the corresponding consent for their use.
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