The COVID-19 pandemic shook the world to its very foundation. No more was the shock felt than in the global food supply chain, which was heavily disrupted at the start of the pandemic.

However, despite the amassing problems, the supply chain rebounded and, in some ways, strengthened. Now, the global food supply chain is in a much different state than a few years ago.

Continue reading below to find out how and why the COVID-19 pandemic affected the global food supply chain.

The Initial Shock

Many of us in the trucking industry felt the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. The flow from farms and producers to customers was suddenly cut.

Many crops rotted in the fields, and workers were kept away from processing plants. Border restrictions kept food from crossing territories as transport became slow, expensive, and ineffective.

As we likely all experienced, some things that we took for granted were suddenly missing from store shelves—flour, pasta, and toilet paper.

During the initial parts of the pandemic, demand for food skyrocketed as people began to amass food. Workers were forced to stay home which slowed down the entire supply chain.

Perhaps one of the main chokepoints at the beginning of the pandemic was from trucking. Truckers faced the greatest difficulties when it came to moving supplies.

It was through trucker’s tireless efforts that grocery stores around the world were kept afloat.

The Rebound

Luckily, the global food supply chain didn’t break, but it was certainly stressed. Manufacturers and food processors were quick to get back into action.

Growers were able to get their crops to new buyers as shippers, packagers, and processors adapted and resumed the global food supply chain. New hygiene rules were implemented as the supply chain caught up from the initial shock.

As the world began to cope with the pandemic and the hoarding of supplies stopped, the supply chain began to recover.

Shifting Demand

Now that the worst is over, the global food supply chain is in a much different state than before. For one thing, people realized that the supply chain needs to be more resilient than it is right now.

Even though the global food supply chain withstood this stress test, the next one might be worse. In the face of climate change and worsening droughts, the food supply chain is beginning to shift.

Right now, there’s an overreliance on sourcing products from only a handful of suppliers. Now, supply chain managers are looking at a wider pool of local suppliers with a more diverse product range.

Although it may be more expensive to maintain, having multiple sources will help in the event of another supply chain shock.

Also, consumers have been part of why there’s been such a shift in demand. Although restaurants are now widely open again, many consumers are sticking to home-cooked meals.

How Much Did COVID-19 Affect the Supply Chain?

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that it affected it massively. Although we may not be aware of it, the global food supply chain is adapting to the effects of COVID-19.

Most likely, the changes that have happened during this pandemic are here to stay. However, that might be a good thing because the global supply chain needs to build itself up for the next crisis.