Project Description

The coronavirus pandemic forced the food industry into uncharted territory, driving it to confront a new set of challenges, including facility shutdowns and overall supply chain disruptions. Protecting the food industry workforce through policies to reduce person-to-person transmission and new technical, organizational, and personnel procedures to manage the risks associated with COVID-19 was essential for a secure and safe food supply.

This project, led by Martin Wiedmann of Cornell University, created and mentored an international task force to advise the food industry in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal, and Senegal. Task force members worked with the Cornell Institute for Food Safety to customize and translate COVID-19 resources for the food industry in their countries and delivered concise, science-based messaging on COVID-19. In addition, they provided guidance on mitigation strategies through Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) videos and food industry office hours.

The task force provided a rapid response to food system challenges and strengthened food security during the coronavirus pandemic. In the long term, the project’s network of experts and its scalable approach can be mobilized to address future pandemics or natural disasters which threaten the food systems in these countries.