ISSUE FOCUS 30 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2021 origin are the most basic nutrient and protein sources of the human diet... As long as human life continues, the need for these resources cannot be over. At the same time, this sector is very dependent on livestock and the life cycle of these livings must continue. During the course of the pandemic, especially in its early periods, many organizations expressed that there was an increase in the demand for meat, milk, and fishery products with the effect of panic purchases. Therefore, it can be seen that the problems experienced in the livestock and feed sector originate mainly from supply-related problems. Disruptions in raw material supply, logistics, and labor resources due to restrictions made it difficult for the industry to respond to consumer demands at the same pace. However, concerns about Covid-19 infection through foods, buying habits that have changed with the intense economic pressures on consumers over time, and the long-term closures of restaurants and catering companies continue to have their effects on livestock and therefore on the feed industry. STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY Another important issue was the vital importance of the food industry and ensuring food safety all over the world. This was one of the most clear and obvious issues that the pandemic revealed in 2020. The joint declaration published by the non-governmental organizations representing the international animal and feed industry with the title “THE INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK PARTNERSHIP ON COVID-19” on 9 April 2020 also drew attention to this issue and included the following statements: “In these troubled times, international collaboration between the governmental and private sectors is more important than ever to ensure food safety, food security and nutrition and thus improving the general welfare of people around the world. Industry and global intergovernmental organizations must work together to ensure that both national food markets and the world market continue to be transparent, stable and reliable sources of food supply. The members of the International Livestock Partnership welcome the actions taken thus far to support the continued well-functioning of value chains ensuring the production and availability of safe, nutritious and diversified animal-sourced foods for all globally. As you have recognized, participants in the animal-sourced food value-chain – from livestock farmers and feed producers, to input suppliers, to those in process and packaging, those delivering food to points of purchase and many others – are providing essential services that must continue. Food derived from farmed animals provides readily absorbed proteins and nutrients and are essential to human health and food security. We therefore need to work together so that the animal-sourced food value-chain globally is not disrupted by the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==