Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic for Food Supply Chains

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated policy responses to it were highly disruptive of supply chains throughout the economy in 2020 – disruptive on an unprecedented scale. Massive shocks on both the demand and supply sides of the market presented particular challenges in agricultural product markets. These were arguably most pronounced in the protein sector. This paper will examine these protein sector supply chain shocks, exploring the nature and causes of the market disruptions during the height of the pandemic, evaluating the effects of these shocks from an economic perspective, and identifying potential market and policy responses that could mitigate the adverse effects of similar events in the future.