A special issue of the IFPRI Insights newsletter highlights a series of analyses from IFPRI researchers and guest contributors on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on national and global food and nutrition security, poverty, and development.

Maximo Torero, Assistant Director General for Economic and Social Development at FAO, calls for a four-pronged approach to help food supply chains withstand the shock of the pandemic.
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A policy paper from CARE examines the gender implications of COVID-19 outbreaks in development and humanitarian settings, including potential adverse effects on education, food security and nutrition, health, livelihoods, and protection.

In these difficult times, hunger looms larger than ever.  The following organizations are just a few of those working to meet the need.  You can find others in your area by searching with phrases like "hunger [your zip code]," or food pantry (or bank) {your zip code]"

Donations are accepted by any and all of these groups. 

Locally -- For the greater Washington, DC area, the Capital Area Food Bank --.  https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/

Nationally -- Feeding America -- https://www.feedingamerica.org/

Globally -- Bread for the World -- https://bread.org/

"We can’t have food waste at the moment. With people panic buying shops are empty and we know that food is being wasted. It just shouldn’t be happening,” says Neil Whitcombe, trading executive, FruPro.  Quoted in an article from FruitNet.com (see links below)..

In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, many of us are buying cartfulls of food.  Here are some recent articles and postings about avoiding food waste during the outbreak -- ways to minimize throwing away the food we've purchased.  

We'll post more hunger- and food security-related articles as they appear in COVID-19 news coverage. 

An article from Esquire magazine -- https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/food/a31903074/quarantine-food-waste-jacques-pepin-david-chang/

A posting by Waste 360 -- https://www.waste360.com/food-waste/fighting-hunger-food-waste-amid-covid-19

An article on the FruitNet.com site -- http://www.fruitnet.com/fpj/article/181220/covid-19-platform-launched-to-fight-food-waste

The spread of Coronavirus in the U.S. has brought some challenges that communities across the country have not been prepared for. Many children in need who rely on school meals, for example, do not have access to these meals while schools are closed. Small food and farm businesses that rely on their client base are now forced to close their doors and even let their workers go. Older community members who might be more vulnerable to the virus due to their health conditions may experience difficulties in getting food supplies. These are just some examples and there are many more challenges that communities might be facing going forward.

Luckily, even while socially distancing ourselves, we can support each other. You can try your skills in painting, writing poetry or prose. We encourage you to submit your work here!
You can also help in your community by offering help in local online forums to buy groceries for those who can't and you can keep supporting local food and farm businesses.
You can also donate to those in need. NO KID HUNGRY is an organization that fights child hunger in America. 

Stay safe!

Check out an interesting piece by Stephanie Mercier in the Farm Journal AgWeb about the potential impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak on U.S. agriculture:
https://www.agweb.com/blog/potential-impact-novel-coronavirus-us-agriculture

Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) has cancelled the 56th Annual Conference on Food Safety due to COVID-19 concerns. Everyone's safety is a priority now. Stay tuned for virtual events: www.aiard.org