A review of global research trends on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, tens of thousands of scientific articles have been published. Researchers are enthusiastic to uncover the effects of COVID-19. This study aims to critically assess the methods researchers used to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on food security. The PRISMA and Bibliometric Methods were utilized in this study. The results of the PRISMA indicate that most researchers utilize quantitative methods, 61%, compared to 32% for qualitative and 7% for mixed methods. These findings provide important data. Firstly, researchers continue relying on quantitative methods (multiple linear regression and Chi-square). Secondly, 32% of the articles utilized qualitative and only two qualitative methods, phenomenological and case studies, have been identified. No researchers use grounded theory research (GTR) and ethnographic studies (SE). Thirdly, using mixed method among COVID-19 researchers is uncommon; only 3% of researchers employed it. Next, the results of the bibliometric reveal that the USA and China contribute the most to the publication on the impact of COVID-19 on food security. A review of research publications on the impact of COVID-19 on food security shows an alarming increase in food loss and waste due to excessive household food purchases. This trend has the potential to endanger food availability in the future. Recommendations to the government include offering incentives to reduce food loss and waste, improving supply chain coordination, training, and technical breakthroughs and innovations, especially for small-scale farmers. The government should support food banks and farmers' markets to shorten the value chain and connect farmers with consumers.

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