The COVID-19 Crisis: An Opportunity to Integrate Food Democracy into Post-Pandemic Food Systems

The world economy is sliding yet into another recession (having arguably barely recovered from the previous economic downturn) due to the worldwide pressures and tensions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.1 With most countries in the world under lockdown (or in similar situations), almost all food is now consumed in the household. Arguably, agricultural producers and the retail industry appear to be the best placed to weather the storm in order to respond to such a change in demand. However, this is overly simplistic. Recent news of empty shelves in supermarkets whilst dairy farmers have been forced to pour milk down the drain have gone viral.

Comparing consumer preferences for sustainable dairy activities among countries.

This study measures consumer preferences for 11 sustainable dairy activities and examines the differences in preferences among five countries: the UK, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Japan. A case 1 best-worst scaling is used to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer application, soil management, water management, biodiversity, working environment, animal care, wastes, market development, rural communities, and product safety and quality. Consumers across countries have diverse preferences for sustainable dairy farming activities, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic and social attention toward the environment and agriculture. Preferential differences for some activities were also revealed by gender and age. When discussing the priorities of some activities, conflicts between gender and generations could arise. Information on consumer preference can help various stakeholders discuss how to improve the sustainability of the dairy sector.

Bovine reproductive and productive parameters in milk production systems during times of COVID 19

In order to analyze changes in bovine reproductive and productive parameters in dairy herds because of the COVID -19 pandemic, an investigation was carried out in the Province of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Costa Region, Ecuador. To collect the information, research techniques (surveys, structured interviews and group sessions) were used from 86 producers belonging to the Producers Province Association. Where the variables were studied: age at first service (EFS), age at first calving (EFC), types of service (TS), age at weaning (EW) and milk production (ML) before and during COVID-19. The data collected were compared using Chi square tests and the likelihood ratio. The PL was compared with the Student's t-test for paired samples. The EPS, EPP and ED were not significant;but, an increase in the proportion of natural mounts (P<0.01) of 36 % was observed, to the detriment of artificial insemination. There was a decrease in ML (P<0,01) from 8.3 to 8.0 litres.cow(-1). In conclusion, the pandemic caused by COVID-19 has negative consequences on milk production systems.

Baseline update for international dairy, livestock and biofuel markets: FAPRI-MU report #08-21

In 2021 the markets for the commodities in this update have continued to be disrupted by COVID-19. All levels of the markets in many countries have been impacted from the supply of inputs, to processing capability and logistics. African Swine Fever (ASF), particularly in China, has disrupted meat markets. Volatility in these markets in the near term is to be expected and it is important to note that the path these markets take will be more volatile than what is projected here. Furthermore, the numbers presented in this report should not be interpreted as forecasts but as projections. They are estimates of the average values that would prevail under normal weather, current policy and macroeconomic parameters assumed herein. This update was prepared the weeks of August 23 and August 30, 2021 using data available at that time. Current policies are assumed to remain in place. The update uses data for international dairy and livestock from USDA's Production, Supply and Distribution database, with updates from the latest USDA's GAIN reports and other sources. Biofuels data comes primarily from F.O. Licht supplemented by GAIN reports and some country sources. The macroeconomy is assumed to evolve as forecast by IHS Markit in July 2021. Additionally no further assumptions have been made with regards to any other markets impacts associated with COVID-19.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dairy cattle farming in Ethiopia

The purpose of this report was to document the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dairy cattle farming in Ethiopia and draw recommendations for enhancing dairy farming and the dairy sector's resilience to such pandemics and other market shocks. It presents the results of a rapid survey of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smallholder and medium-scale dairy cattle farmers in Ethiopia during the period between 5 September and 11 October 2020. A total of 1815 farmers who are part of the African Dairy Genetics Gains (ADGG) programme from five regions of Ethiopia, and one city administration participated in the study. Majority of the respondents reported that dairy farming input supply and service provision such as feed, veterinary services, animal vaccines, artificial insemination and daily hired labour had all decreased during the pandemic. More than half (60%) of the respondents reported a decrease in the total volume of milk produced per household, which was linked to the shortage of feed and other services. Forty-six percent of the respondents reported selling milk at a lower price compared to periods before the pandemic. Decreasing demand for milk by direct consumers, cooperatives and processors is one potential reason for the lower milk sales price. In conclusion, service providers and input suppliers (both government and private sector) working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture are important in safeguarding farmers from shocks which result from man-made or natural disasters such as those brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, supporting dairy cooperatives and processors to produce at full capacity and linking dairy farmers to microfinance providers so they can access credit will ensure sustained profitability of their dairy farms.

Early effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the African dairy industry: cases of Burkina Faso, Kenya, Madagascar, and Senegal. (Agriculture et syst..mes alimentaires face .. la Covid-19.)

This paper provides an early assessment of the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and of subsequent response measures on milk production, collection, processing, marketing and consumption in Africa. The researchers focus on the period surrounding the first wave of the outbreak (from February to June 2020), during which the number of cases surged and many steps were taken to curb the epidemic. The paper is based on reports from four countries covered by the Africa-Milk Research Project: Burkina Faso, Kenya, Madagascar and Senegal. Data was collected primarily from nine dairy processors located in those countries. Major conclusions of the study are: (1) Dairy farmers were negatively affected by COVID-19 measures when the health crisis coincided with the peak of the milk production season, and when governments did not take steps to support milk production. (2) Small and informal milk collectors were also affected by traffic restrictions as they could not obtain traffic permits. (3) Milk powder importation remained unaffected during the outbreak. (4) Dairy processors (particularly small ones) faced many challenges restricting their operation. Travel restrictions led to temporary interruptions of milk supply, and because of employee protection and safety measures, processing costs increased. (5) Many small retailers were affected by bans on public transport and reduced their purchases of artisanal dairy products;meanwhile, spoilage of dairy products increased during long curfews coupled with poor storage conditions. Supermarkets were able to increase their market share during the pandemic thanks to their connections with industrial dairy processors and wholesalers. (6) A majority of consumers decreased their consumption of dairy products due to a decrease of purchasing power. In some cases, an increase in consumption occurred (due to Ramadan month and dry season high temperatures) and consumption shifted towards long-life dairy products. (7) Overall, the consequences of the health crisis affected more small and informal dairy supply chains than the larger ones, which are more formal, better organised and finally more resilient to face this kind of global crisis.

Assessment of Key Feeding Technologies and Land Use in Dairy Sheep Farms in Spain

Familiar mixed dairy sheep farm is the most widespread system in the Mediterranean basin, in Latin America and in developing countries (85%). There is a strong lack of technological adoption in packages of feeding and land use in small-scale farms. To increase competitiveness, it would be of great interest to deepen the knowledge of how innovation was selected, adopted, and spread. The objective of this research was to select strategic feeding and land use technologies in familiar mixed dairy sheep systems and later assess dairy sheep farms in Spain. This objective was assessed by combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies. In the first stage, with the aim to identify and select the appropriate technologies, a panel of 107 experts in dairy sheep production was used. A questionnaire was applied to all of them with successive rounds using Delphi methodology. Later, these technologies were grouped by principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). In a second stage the technological results from a random sample of 157 farms in the Center of Spain were collected. The technologies selected were linked to the technological adoption level of the farms in Castilla la Mancha by a multiple regression model. Ten technologies were selected by the 107 experts. Four factors were retained by PCA that explained at 67.11% of variance. The first factor is related to feeding strategies, the second to land use for livestock production, the third to efficient management of land resources or ecoefficiency and the fourth to by-products use. The expert evaluation was grouped in three clusters using the Ward’s method and the squared Euclidean distance measure, where the second showed higher values in the adoption level of each technology. The multiple regression model explained the relationship between the technologies and the technological level of the farms (R2 73.53%). The five technologies selected were: use of unifeed (1), supplemental feeding (5), grazing (6), raw materials production (7) and sustainable use of water and soil (10). These ten technologies identified can be directly extended to small-scale dairy farms from other countries in the Mediterranean basin and Latin America. This technological selection was supported from the broad and diverse panel of experts used. Besides, five technologies identified by the quantitative model will be able to be taken into account for the development of public innovation policies. They are direct technologies and easy to apply on the farm and seeking increased viability through innovation vs. intensification.

Dairy value chains during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia: evidence from cascading value chain surveys before and during the pandemic

The researchers combine in-person survey data collected in February 2018 with phone survey data collected in June and September 2021 to study how dairy value chains in Ethiopia have coped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on the major dairy value chain connecting farmers in North and West Shewa as well as peri-urban and urban producers in and around Addis Ababa to consumers in Addis Ababa, the researchers applied a cascading survey approach in which the researchers collected data at all levels of the value chain: dairy farmers, rural wholesalers, and urban retailers. In June and September 2021, the researchers see little evidence that the pandemic is exerting a negative effect on the dairy value chain actors. Nine percent of the dairy farmers exited the business between February 2018 and June 2021, but these exits were not caused by the pandemic. Milk yields have increased considerably between 2018 and 2021, particularly among cross-bred cow types. Meanwhile, sales patterns and sales destinations among farmers have remained similar since 2018. In 2021, farmers are processing more and the decision to process or not seems to be formed by the changes in the relative prices of liquid milk and processed dairy products. The researchers see suggestive evidence of a decline in credit availability and access to extension services. Same is true for the availability of daily workers, though not many farmers hire external help. Among farmers, by far the main concern relate to surging feed prices that increased since the onset of the pandemic and June 2021 by 80 to 100 percent. As a result, farmers report purchasing less feed and this is reducing milk yields, and thus farmer incomes. Rural traders also seem unaffected by the pandemic. The turnover among liquid milk traders is high with 36 percent of the milk wholesalers interviewed in February 2018 reported to have stopped trading dairy products by September 2021. However, only few reported that the pandemic was a factor in their decision to quit the business. The turnover among butter traders was smaller with 4 out of 30 traders quitting between February 2018 and September 2021. The researchers see no dramatic changes in procurement and sales destinations between 2018 and 2021. Traders report that the competition in their sector has increased since February 2020. Meanwhile, the availability of labor at the midstream segment of the value chain has remained the same over time. The main concern among at this segment of the value chain relates to limited supply of milk and butter from rural areas. The impact of the pandemic seems also minimal at the retail level. About 29 percent of the retail traders had quit the business since February 2018, mostly because their business was no longer profitable. Eight out of the 49 retailers that exited the sector attributed their exit, at least partly, to the pandemic. Comparison of the data collected in 2018 and 2021 reveals that the traded quantities have increased in the dairy retail sector. However, when asked to compare to the situation just before the pandemic was declared, most traders report selling less and having fewer clients now. The researchers see little change in labor use at the retail level across the survey years. Shortage of dairy coming into Addis Ababa was highlighted as the main concern among retail traders. In line with the high general inflation in Ethiopia over the past years, prices of liquid milk have increased considerably in the last three years. However, when expressed in USD terms, prices of milk have remained surprisingly stable (0.92 USD/liter in 2018 and 0.91 USD/liter in 2021). Comparing the farmgate and retail prices reveal that farm share (i.e., the share of the final retail price that is received by the farmer) increased slightly between 2018 and 2021. Finally, the researchers see no evidence that increases in post-harvest losses. The physical quantities wasted seem very low, which is in line with the more careful analysis conducted by Minten, Tamru, and Reardon (2020). If anything, these losses at the

Waste management in dairy farms during the COVID-19 period - the case of Gjilan region - Kosovo

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the level of education and experience in animal husbandry in terms of waste management on dairy farms in Kosovo during the Covid-19, the case of Gjilan region. It is a descriptive and quantitative study. Random samples were taken in 71 dairy farms in three municipalities of the Gjilan region. Surveys include farms where 5-78 dairy cows are raised. Data on milk production, waste management from detergents, organic manure, cleaning rags, farm certification and water analysis are included. Datas for each farm were recorded during the period of February-April 2020. During these period farmers' reported that the restrictive measures taken as a result of Covid-19 did not have any negative impact on milk production, however, 26.8% of farmers interviewed reported that milk production was reduced. Further, it was observed a major mismanagement of farm waste that was the main focus of the research: 80.3% of farmers stated that compost waste comes out of the farm and is distributed freely in the environment around the farm.

Resilience of French organic dairy cattle farms and supply chains to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Context: Identifying and developing resilient farming and food systems has emerged as a top priority during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many academics suggest that farming and food systems should move towards agroecological models to achieve better resilience. However, there was limited evidence to support this statement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Objective: Our objectives were to report evidence for the resilience of French organic dairy cattle farms and supply chains to the Covid-19 pandemic and to discuss the features of those farms and supply chains that promoted resilience. Methods: We combined online surveys with farmers, semi-structured interviews with supply chain actors and a review of the gray and technical literature, and whenever possible, we compared this qualitative data against quantitative industry data. We also asked farmers to rank 19 pre-identified risks according to their likelihood and potential impacts. Results and conclusions: We showed the pandemic had zero to moderate impacts on most farms. Among respondents, 38 farmers reported no impacts, another 43 experienced minor impacts on aspects such as their income and workload while only 5 faced major impacts, such as the closure of sales outlets. Most farms were family farms and were not greatly affected by worker availability issues. Moreover, the vast majority of these farms were nearly autonomous for livestock feeding and none reported input supply shortages or related impacts on farm functioning and productivity. The pandemic had moderate impacts on supply chains. Despite staff reductions, supply chains continued producing sufficient amounts of dairy products to meet consumer demand. To do so, they narrowed the scope of products manufactured to concentrate on a basic mix: milk, cream, butter and plain yogurt. Logistics were also adapted by hiring retired drivers to keep up with milk collection and reorganizing the delivery of products by shunting usual sub-level platforms that were saturated. Consequently, even after this pandemic, farmers remained more concerned with climate change-related risks on their farms than by sanitary risks. Several resilience factors were identified that promoted buffer and adaptive capacity at the farm level and that favored adaptive capacity at the supply chain level. Significance: These findings confirm the relevance of agroecological models in achieving resilience in farming and food systems against shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic. This preliminary work carried out at the end of the first lock-down period needs to be pursued in order to understand the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic over longer time horizons.