Saving the world after devastating effects of COVID-19

Our societies, and thus, our production chains, healthy foods, social structures, and fast-moving lifestyles – have all been drastically impacted during this dramatic period and the continually unfolding effects of COVID-19.

Many of the human beings of the world and all governments are now looking for alternative ways of living and surviving as a result of this crisis.

With the concept below that, I propose to be put into action, it could lead to better long-term sustainability, as well as financial benefits and strengths.

I designed my concept more than 5 years ago for how to solve man-made cases of serious, global impact.

It is called the “Organic Agro Tourism Development Concept.” The challenges we are facing now include the situation with food chains, tourism, and travel dependent trade, all of which are now down as a result of COVID-19.

People will not survive without food, and all food comes from farming. All around the world, we see the impact that the coronavirus is having. Farms are closed and stores are empty!

When it comes a time that people will be able to live normal lives again after the pandemic, tourism will begin again, as will the need for food in restaurants and hotels, which means agricultural needs too.

Dutch flower producers have had to destroy the equivalent of a billion euros worth of flowers. Nepali small-scale farmers have to drain their milk every day.

The big farms in the world, operating massive productions to sell to different parts of the world have decaying yields in their fields. Going on holidays and travel for people in the world may not happen again for a couple of years.

When it comes a time that people will be able to live normal lives again after the pandemic, tourism will begin again, as will the need for food in restaurants and hotels, which means agricultural needs too.

When this happens, all food needs to be approached differently. Some destinations have had no choice, but to import food and beverages, however, most of the destinations do have the possibility to grow or source food from local sources. When this begins to happen, it will be real organic, agro-tourism development.

My concept engages all of these components and will lead to there being light from this present dark side of the situation. We should all stay in quarantine for the obvious present time being.

We can begin to create and grow gardens, not only for plants to decorate our homes, but to grow edible plants and fruit gardens as well. Governments should allow people to grow their food, including granting access to abandoned, fertile land that could be used for gardens.

We all should change our food habits to be based on locally grown, organic recipes. By doing this, we don’t need big ships and containers to transport from one part of the world to the other.

You can imagine how much fuel is used, and thus how much could be saved, from just one single day of food transportation. Imagine too, how many people would benefit from eating simple, delicious, farm-to-plate meals.

The opportunity is now for people to adopt the habits to eat local and think global. All local restaurants, hotels, and resorts, should also be depending on the local farmer’s products.

To the best of any businesses’ capabilities, they should also start growing food themselves to serve the customers. According to the Organic Agro Tourism Development Concept, most of the farmers should start up their farmhouse restaurants and resorts for farm-to-table organic menus.

By doing this, farmers can help solve the problem of being able to sell their products. As a result of the crisis of COVID-19, all farms of the world are going to face serious problems and challenges of not having enough skilled man-power, seeds, fertilizers, and markets.

With unemployment rising, those who have lost their jobs can begin to volunteer at local farms. This helps by supporting farms in their endeavors so they can continue farming, and teaches and encourages people to start their own organic farms and to eat local, organic as well. It also can start creating jobs. When all people, restaurants, and resorts start to consume local- and as a farmhouse, farm-to-table restaurants are created, there will be many job opportunities for chefs, cooks, waiters, cashiers, organic farm experts, and workers in the farms, etc.

CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) could be the best option to help initially. In the context of developed countries, any restaurants that can operate with only locally grown products will then allow small scale farms to sell their products.

Recent records of Chinese air pollution have shown to have dropped dramatically via environmental reports after 45 days of lockdown. Similarly, it is going to be the same in the rest of the world as well.

If we all follow the concept of growing and supporting our local farmers and farms, then I am optimistic we can all do our part in helping control pollution. Food transportation will decrease, as will plastics and cans.

Water contamination will stop, and some of our biggest contributing issues to global warming will lessen. The issues of the world’s unemployment will be solved, because everyone will start to grow food for themselves, and there will be a need for so many local volunteers and experts to work on the small scale and large organic farms.

We can envision now, the image of two years ahead and all destinations of the world with healthy, local foods and happy, healthy farmers and visitors as well. This concept offers the solution to start growing food everywhere, which will help lead to no pollution because the rate of transportation will be so much less than we could have imagined possible.

If we all follow the concept, then it could nourish the whole world. We all will have peace, harmony, and prosperity equally, and there won’t be any discrimination between the poor and the rich. No jealousy, unemployment, or stressed youth.

Our world has the opportunity to become a paradise again, and even better than before.

(The writer is Organic Agro Tourism Development Concept Developer)