The government have been criticised by key academics as Covid-19 exposes planning failures and financial cuts. From the absence of migrant labour to supply chain shocks, the government has fallen back on simply ‘muddling-through’ and handing power to retailers, instead of working to a congruent plan.
Food systems and supply will continue to be affected until a vaccine is found, making the need for a food plan even more vital. Knee-jerk reactions, such as closing foodservice industry appeared logical, yet could have been used for the greater good, such as becoming community food centres. Swift action for the greater good of feeding local groups is typical of the successful actions that helped feed the country during world wars.
The lack of coordinated action from the government has ceded power to retailers, who were left to become the defacto food supply for the country. Previous criticism of the government’s record on food poverty is only likely to be strengthened unless action is taken to bring the country’s food supply under control.
Bringing the government’s responsibility for food into question is on the lips of many in government, as Public Health England’s existence is threatened due to their mishandling of Covid-19. Boris Johnson is said to be reviewing the existence of several government institutions as a result of Covid-19, hopefully bringing food supply nearer to the top of the list.
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