Covid-19 management by farmers and policymakers in Burkina Faso, Colombia and France: Lessons for climate action

During crises, adaptation or recovery measures or plans at local or national scales may not necessarily address longer-term or structural problems such as climate change mitigation.This article describes farmers and policymakers' responses to mitigate the adverse effects of Covid-19 on the agricultural sector. The study is based on surveys conducted with farmers, traders, and extension staff in Burkina Faso, Colombia, and France, and literature. None of the studied countries linked Covid-19 response measures to long-term climate change mitigation actions. Analyzing the impacts that Covid-19 had on agricultural systems and the decision taken by policymakers to handle its direct and indirect effects can help society draw lessons on how to improve climate action.