COVID-19 and the Food System: Setback or Opportunity for Gender Equality?

Jul 31, 2020 | Catherine Ragasa and Isabel Lambrecht
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Agriculture and the food sector are critical to food and nutrition security. They not only produce food for growing populations but also contribute to economic empowerment. However, food systems at all levels – global, domestic, and local– are expected to be highly affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Though both women and men participate in the food system as producers, processors, and traders, they will likely be impacted differently. As such, crises and policy responses can either exacerbate or reduce pre-existing gender gaps.

Through their research, Catherine Ragasa and Isabel Lambrecht offer their perspectives on how the COVID-19 crisis and related policy responses could create both challenges as well as opportunities for gender equality in the food system.