Food insecurity and Covid-19

Abstract

This article analyzes food and nutritional insecurity (FNI) in a global context, highlighting its structural roots and how the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this issue. FNI is a multidimensional problem influenced by various factors, including biophysical and environmental drivers, political and economic drivers, sociocultural drivers, and demographic drivers that affect food systems. The current Corporate Food Regime, characterized by the dominance of large transnational companies throughout the food system, has increased food production but has not ensured equitable distribution and the promotion of FNI. The monopoly power of these companies is evident both in food production and agriculture, with a limited number of companies controlling a significant portion of the global food and seed market. The influence of the food industry on government agencies, healthcare professionals, and the general population is discussed, showing how the industry promotes a wide variety of often unhealthy foods and diets. The financialization of food is also addressed, highlighting contradictions in the dynamics of food prices in relation to FNI. This study emphasizes the complexity of the FNI problem, which involves not only food production but also distribution, quality, and consumption, and underscores the need for more comprehensive economic and social policies to address these critical issues.