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The world has changed radically from just a few short months ago. The long-term impact of the coronavirus is yet to be determined, but there is no question we will experience seismic change going forward.
Working from home offers both positive and negative impacts: reduced productivity but lower costs for facilities. In a world where productivity was No. 1, can we survive with lower output even though operating costs are significantly reduced? What will become of the offices in cities throughout the world if only a few workers go to these facilities on an occasional basis? What about the world without sports, leisure, recreation and travel? Frankly, though, these are all peripheral questions. Here is a more striking one: how and who will feed the world when the global workforce has shrunk and the agricultural supply chain has been disrupted?
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Opinion: Let’s not forget the other vital driver of Alberta’s economy Back to video
The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout will place food security front and centre, making the Alberta and Canadian agri-food industry more important than ever in our local, national and global economies as an employer, an economic driver and an essential service. Agriculture and agri-food systems can provide a stable, sustainable resource and absorber of workers to help the Alberta and Canadian economies rebound after the pandemic.
