The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of the Pacific food system to externalities and has had far-reaching impacts, despite the small number of COVID-19 cases recorded thus far. Measures adopted to mitigate risk from the pandemic have had severe impacts on tourism, remittances, and international trade, among other aspects of the political economy of the region, and are thus impacting on food systems, food security and livelihoods. Of particular concern will be the interplay between loss of incomes and the availability and affordability of local and imported foods. In this paper, we examine some of the key pathways of impact on food systems, and identify opportunities to strengthen Pacific food systems during these challenging times. The great diversity among Pacific Island Countries and Territories in their economies, societies, and agricultural potential will be an important guide to planning interventions and developing scenarios of alternative futures. Bolstering regional production and intraregional trade in a currently import-dependent region could strengthen the regional economy, and provide the health benefits of consuming locally produced and harvested fresh foods – as well as decreasing reliance on global supply chains. However, significant production, processing, and storage challenges remain and would need to be consistently overcome to influence a move away from shelf-stable foods, particularly during periods when human movement is restricted and during post-disaster recovery.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 和太平洋粮食系统的复原力：建立强有力应对措施的机会

尽管迄今为止记录的 COVID-19 病例数量很少，但不断发展的 COVID-19 大流行暴露了太平洋粮食系统对外部因素的脆弱性，并产生了深远的影响。为减轻大流行风险而采取的措施对该地区的旅游、汇款和国际贸易以及该地区政治经济的其他方面产生了严重影响，从而对粮食系统、粮食安全和生计产生了影响。特别值得关注的是收入损失与当地和进口食品的供应和负担能力之间的相互作用。在本文中，我们研究了影响粮食系统的一些关键途径，并确定了在这些充满挑战的时期加强太平洋粮食系统的机会。太平洋岛国和地区的经济差异很大，社会和农业潜力将成为规划干预措施和开发替代未来情景的重要指南。在目前依赖进口的地区加强区域生产和区域内贸易可以加强区域经济，并提供消费当地生产和收获的新鲜食品的健康益处——以及减少对全球供应链的依赖。然而，仍然存在重大的生产、加工和储存挑战，需要不断克服这些挑战，以影响人们远离货架稳定食品的趋势，特别是在人类活动受限期间和灾后恢复期间。在目前依赖进口的地区加强区域生产和区域内贸易可以加强区域经济，并提供消费当地生产和收获的新鲜食品的健康益处——以及减少对全球供应链的依赖。然而，仍然存在重大的生产、加工和储存挑战，需要不断克服这些挑战，以影响人们远离货架稳定食品的趋势，特别是在人类活动受限期间和灾后恢复期间。在目前依赖进口的地区加强区域生产和区域内贸易可以加强区域经济，并提供消费当地生产和收获的新鲜食品的健康益处——以及减少对全球供应链的依赖。然而，仍然存在重大的生产、加工和储存挑战，需要不断克服这些挑战，以影响人们远离货架稳定食品的趋势，特别是在人类活动受限期间和灾后恢复期间。