MEETING FOOD SECURITY CHALLENGES AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOCUS OF AUG. 31 BUSINESSMIR-ROR FORUM

T HE Covid-19 pandemic’s impact has been massive and deep, and will be felt over the long run. The challenges it posed to the country have forced both the government and the private sector to quickly strategize to respond effectively, both to the public health crisis and the economic backlash from quarantines.

The latest GDP data on the second quarter economic performance at the height of crippling lockdowns highlighted the critical role of agriculture in the nation’s survival.

Despite the disruptions to the food supply and logistics networks, agriculture proved to be resilient in the face of crisis, as many business sectors in urban areas and local government units found ways to empower farmers and fishermen by going straight to them, buying their produce and bringing them to scores of cities where outright food subsidies had to be given to households as millions of workers lost their jobs. The pandemic also underscored the need to ensure food security, including the social, economic and envi-ronmental sustainability of food systems.

How can this quick, decisive strategizing and creative problem-solving be sustained moving forward? Such will be the focus of a webinar organized by the BusinessMirror in partnership with Fiera de Manila, Inc. on “Agriculture, Food Security and Lessons from the Pandemic” on August 31, 1:30-4:30pm PST via Zoom,live in Facebook and YouTube , with the theme, “The Challenges of Attain-ing Food Security.”

Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista of the Department of Agriculture and Mr. Anthony Dizon, president of the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines will be lead discussants, along with Dr. Mary Ann P. Sayoc, Lead for Public Affairs of the East West Seed Group and noted economist and BusinessMirror columnist, UP Prof. Rene Ofreneo.

With San Miguel Corp. as Platinum Sponsor, the forum is also supported by East West Seed, with the Philippine Graphic maga-zine, Pilipino Mirrror, CNN and DWIZ as media partners plus our Out of home LED Billboard provider, DOOH.

Moderating the forum is BusinessMirror’s multi-awarded Agriculture reporting team, led by Associate Editor Jennifer A. Ng and re-porter Jasper Arcalas.