Animal Source Foods (ASF) have an important role to play in inclusive, resilient, and nutrition-sensitive development. In July 2020, Land O’Lakes Venture37 conducted a pulse survey with 66 value-chain actors from four countries across three continents. The survey included a variety of participants in the ASF market system in Rwanda, Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Georgia, including farmers, processors, agro-input retailers and banks. The goal was to understand the ASF market disruption caused by COVID-19 to inform current and future work.

It is important to note that we understand that data collected is from a snapshot in time, place and value chain. We also know that globally we have entered an unprecedented “new normal,” where it is difficult to predict how organizations and people will affect local economies and food supply.
The work here represents a strategy to understand COVID-19 market distortions and disruptions in the competitiveness and resiliency of the ASF supply chain.

Our data shows that as COVID-19 continues to disrupt countries around the world, food security and livelihoods are at risk. Prior to COVID-19, roughly a third of the world’s population was not getting a correct balance of nutrition. And because of COVID-19, the United Nations reports that an additional 130 million people will fall into the status of food insecure.

Access to affordable, safe and nutritious ASF – such as eggs, fish, meat, dairy products – are critical to reduce stunting and adequately feed global communities, as well as build resilience and create economic stability. Development organizations, agribusinesses and private sector partners must adapt to COVID-19 by building more resilient livestock food systems to cost effectively supply these nutrient dense foods. But how? We are turning to data and local insights to help us navigate a way forward.

Read the Report here: