Situation of the Dairy Chain During the Health Emergency

This project addresses the impact of governmental regulations stemming from the COVID-19 health emergency on the Ecuadorian dairy value chain, a sector crucial for food security supporting over one and a half million families. The primary goal is to assess how state provisions affected farm-level production, quality parameters, and the processing, transportation, and commercialization operations within Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The methodology combines case analysis with primary data collection. Changes in production levels and quality will be identified through the analysis of collection center records and laboratory results from specific sites. Furthermore, the effects of compliance with state restrictions on SMEs will be determined via direct interviews with owners. Finally, the impact on the supply and consumption of dairy products will be measured through online surveys targeting consumers in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca. The results, analyzed using Infostat, aim to provide critical information for designing strategies to mitigate risks and ensure the sustainability of the Ecuadorian dairy chain against future crises.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To analyze the influence of state provisions issued during the COVID-19 health emergency on production processes, processing in dairy SMEs, transportation, commercialization, and consumption of milk and derivatives in Ecuador, in order to generate information that supports decision-making to safeguard the national dairy chain.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Quality and safety in milk and derivatives