Corona leads to poorer harvests in poorer regions

This is the conclusion of Dr. Hussam Hussein, a visiting scientist at the University of Kassel. Together with Dr. Mohammad Al-Saidi, a German scientist at Qatar University, they have studied the impact of the pandemic on water, energy and food. One finding is that people are paying more attention to their hygiene, which is why masks and other biomedical waste can contaminate fields. Furthermore, more hand-washing and disinfecting means more water is used, so less is available for growing food. Because of more hygiene, private water demand in Jordan, for example, increased by 40 percent in 2020.

Another problem for Jordan is border closures due to Corona. Food that had previously been imported from abroad temporarily stopped entering the country. In order to still be able to supply its own population, the government banned the export of its own food. In addition, more food is to be grown in Jordan, for which additional water is needed. Other countries are also struggling with such problems. In Lebanon, food prices have risen sharply since the crisis, and in Yemen, where war has been raging since 2015, the supply situation has deteriorated even further.

Energy demand, on the other hand, is barely changing. It is true that a lot is being saved, as many public buildings and offices are closed. However, people are retreating into the private sphere because of lockdown regulations. Computers, televisions and air conditioners are being used more, which is why individual consumption is rising. In New York in 2020, for example, there was little change in electricity consumption between midday and evening or between weekdays and weekends. The result for individuals is that their electricity bills will be higher. 

However, despite all the negative impacts, Hussam Hussain also emphasizes the opportunities that can arise from the pandemic: "The current crisis can also be seen as a stress test for our sustainability goals, sustainability policy and sustainability management. COVD-19 is shaping the environmental research agenda for the foreseeable future. It represents a unique experiment with long-term implications for environmental policy, climate regulation, and economics, as well as for our perceptions of globalization, equity, and environmental stewardship." For example, increased residential electricity consumption could lead to the purchase of more economical appliances, border closures could contribute to more efficient regional food production, and, in general, more conscious use of water as a resource could emerge.

This study is now published in the journal Science of The Total Environment and is available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721015977

Contact:

Hussam Hussein
University of Kassel
Department 11 - Ecological Agricultural Science
Visiting Scientist
Email: hussein[at]uni-kassel[dot]de

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Press and Public Relations
Phone: +49 561 804 -1961
E-mail: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de