Data-Driven Food Systems for Crisis Resiliency

The document argues that while the COVID-19 pandemic exposed systemic vulnerabilities and inequities in global food systems—including labor shortages and trade blockages—it also highlighted the potential of underutilized data tools to build future resiliency. It advocates for a 'culture of data' supported by policy, infrastructure, and leadership to empower stakeholders across the value chain. The report is an output of the COVID Action for Food Systems – Africa initiative.

• The first half of 2020 saw significant disruptions to food systems, including the closure of agri-dealers, manufacturing plants, and food markets, alongside trade blockages and labor shortages.
• The COVID-19 pandemic placed immense pressure on global, regional, and local food systems, threatening mass-scale nutrition and food shortages while revealing existing injustices and inequities within the system.
• Data is identified as a critical but underutilized tool that, if used inclusively and intentionally, can significantly enhance the ability of food systems to respond to and recover from crises.
• Building future food system resiliency requires a 'culture of data' enabled by specific supports, including connectivity, infrastructure, capacity building, policy, and leadership.
• The pandemic exacerbated the digital divide, particularly regarding the limited digital capabilities of small retailers.

APA

World Economic Forum (2020). Data-Driven Food Systems for Crisis Resiliency. https://www.weforum.org/publications/data-driven-food-systems-for-crisis-resiliency/

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Data-Driven Food Systems for Crisis Resiliency. 2020. https://www.weforum.org/publications/data-driven-food-systems-for-crisis-resiliency/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Data-Driven Food Systems for Crisis Resiliency |date=23 September 2020 |url=https://www.weforum.org/publications/data-driven-food-systems-for-crisis-resiliency/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2020datadriven, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Data-Driven Food Systems for Crisis Resiliency}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://www.weforum.org/publications/data-driven-food-systems-for-crisis-resiliency/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }