Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy • Volume 1 , Number 2 • Fall / Winter 2020
Maggie Davis , 1 Netta Squires , 2 Chris Webster 3
1
2
University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security
3
University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security
Abstract
Food insecurity in the United States is not a new challenge , but the coronavirus pandemic has revealed that the current system to support Food Assistance Providers ( FAPs ) is incredibly brittle and vulnerable to supply chain disruptions . Many FAPs use just-in-time models to support their operations , relying heavily on donations from restaurants and grocers . However , COVID-19 has demonstrated that when a disaster causes increased food demand and widespread destabilization of food supply chains , jurisdictions are severely constrained from obtaining and delivering food to populations in need . Recent events have further amplified a potential danger to current food security strategies in terms of regions experiencing multiple events , such as a pandemic coupled with hurricanes , wildfires , or other catastrophes .
After exploring the current governmental food security measures , their long-term deficiencies , and other lessons learned through the COVID-19 response , we call for a major policy shift in how the country addresses food insecurity following a disaster . Rather than relying on after-the-fact spending and hastily created infrastructure , the nation should proactively stockpile shelf-stable food . To this end , we propose establishing a national stockpile of shelf-stable foods to help protect against future food supply destabilization .
Keywords : critical infrastructure , food security , disaster resilience , shelf-stable foods , stockpiles , supply chains , emergency management
177 doi : 10.18278 / jcip . 1.2.10