Impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on short animal product chains: results of surveys at the beginning of the pandemic Dossier Covid : Conséquences de la crise sanitaire de la Covid-19 sur les productions animales

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a major shock for contemporary societies and a source of major disruption of food systems. During the first months of the crisis (March-October 2020), members of the Réseau Mixte Technologique Alimentation Locale (Local Food Joint Technological Network) joined forces to conduct three nationwide surveys (citizens, advisers, producers) in order to understand the impacts of this crisis and sanitary associated measures on food systems, especially on short food supply chains. The article presents a summary of the data collected, focusing on the case of short chains for animal products. It shows how and under what conditions livestock farms involving these chains resisted, adapted and innovated during the first months of the pandemic. It emphasises the key role of collective action in the implementation of rapid solutions to the problems identified. While calling for an examination of whether these solutions were maintained thereafter, the article draws from them ways to consolidate short food chains of animal products and the resistance, adaptation and innovation capacities of the associated farms.