Christmas 2020 will be the most subdued in living memory as trying to manage a global pandemic has become the focus of everyone’s lives. It has caused a transformation in human behaviour and a refocusing on what is really essential for human survival. While there are many things that are desirable, what is absolutely needed for survival are water, food, heat and shelter. Of these food and water go together, as do heat and shelter.
Adapting
The pandemic has caused lockdown and lives have revolved around where we live, with work and home life merging for those of us fortunate enough to have work that can be done from home.
In this respect farmers have been able to function and maintain the food supply chain to the degree that shelves were never empty for long.
Perhaps the unsung heroes of the pandemic were the people working on the factory floor where even with installation of safety measures and protective equipment, the congested working environment meant the risks were high. Outbreaks in factories did occur but were brought under control and the food supply chain was maintained.
Change in food consumption pattern
The greatest disruption to the food chain caused by the pandemic has been in the area of hospitality and general out of home eating. Normal socialising has ceased and working from home has led to a huge reduction in demand for dining on the go.
People though of course have hadto cintinue eating, and the winners, if anyone can be labelled a winner at present, has been the retailers as people shopped to cook at home.
In fact the expansion of home cooking during the pandemic has led to increased demand for products that require some effort to prepare, hence demand for beef and lamb has been particularly good in 2020.
Supply chain
The smooth operation of the supply chain despite a global pandemic is a tribute to farmers who have kept the raw materials flowing, the factory workers that process it, the hauliers that distribute it and the shop workers that put it on the shelves.
In the lead up to Christmas we watched the horror of lorry drivers stranded at Dover port without the most basic of facilities, reminding us just how essential this normally hidden part of the supply chain is.
As we sit down to enjoy our Christmas meal, it is important we think of the farmer, factory worker, delivery driver and shop assistant that made it possible. It is also important that policy makers in the Irish Government and the EU don’t just pay lip service to appreciation of this but formulate policy that reflects the importance of this supply chain which provides the most basic of every citizen’s needs.
Read more
COVID-19 is changing food choices for good
The importance of celebrating Irish food produce
Plough On: scandal, intrigue, fads, money, mislead - food trends of the decade
Christmas 2020 will be the most subdued in living memory as trying to manage a global pandemic has become the focus of everyone’s lives. It has caused a transformation in human behaviour and a refocusing on what is really essential for human survival. While there are many things that are desirable, what is absolutely needed for survival are water, food, heat and shelter. Of these food and water go together, as do heat and shelter.
Adapting
The pandemic has caused lockdown and lives have revolved around where we live, with work and home life merging for those of us fortunate enough to have work that can be done from home.
In this respect farmers have been able to function and maintain the food supply chain to the degree that shelves were never empty for long.
Perhaps the unsung heroes of the pandemic were the people working on the factory floor where even with installation of safety measures and protective equipment, the congested working environment meant the risks were high. Outbreaks in factories did occur but were brought under control and the food supply chain was maintained.
Change in food consumption pattern
The greatest disruption to the food chain caused by the pandemic has been in the area of hospitality and general out of home eating. Normal socialising has ceased and working from home has led to a huge reduction in demand for dining on the go.
People though of course have hadto cintinue eating, and the winners, if anyone can be labelled a winner at present, has been the retailers as people shopped to cook at home.
In fact the expansion of home cooking during the pandemic has led to increased demand for products that require some effort to prepare, hence demand for beef and lamb has been particularly good in 2020.
Supply chain
The smooth operation of the supply chain despite a global pandemic is a tribute to farmers who have kept the raw materials flowing, the factory workers that process it, the hauliers that distribute it and the shop workers that put it on the shelves.
In the lead up to Christmas we watched the horror of lorry drivers stranded at Dover port without the most basic of facilities, reminding us just how essential this normally hidden part of the supply chain is.
As we sit down to enjoy our Christmas meal, it is important we think of the farmer, factory worker, delivery driver and shop assistant that made it possible. It is also important that policy makers in the Irish Government and the EU don’t just pay lip service to appreciation of this but formulate policy that reflects the importance of this supply chain which provides the most basic of every citizen’s needs.
Read more
COVID-19 is changing food choices for good
The importance of celebrating Irish food produce
Plough On: scandal, intrigue, fads, money, mislead - food trends of the decade
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