Although all Americans have experienced the consequences of the pandemic, disparities have intensified for vulnerable populations as those who already had difficulty accessing resources such as food, health care and technology find themselves struggling even more. Feeding America reported that 17 million more Americans are struggling with food insecurity than before the pandemic and that the number will continue to grow.¹² Children are particularly vulnerable to the long-lasting negative effects of the pandemic. Disruptions to food access, education and socializing opportunities can have long-term consequences on children’s physical and emotional health, well-being and academic success. Students cannot engage and learn effectively until their basic physical and psychological needs are met. Educators and health professionals alike are searching for solutions to combat the negative impacts of the pandemic for children across the country. Food security and good nutrition, while always important, have become critical interventions for addressing the whole child.

Implication: For decades the dairy community has supported efforts to combat food insecurity. Specifically, milk and dairy foods are a vital component of federal meal programs such as school meal programs that support the health of children and their families. Milk and dairy foods are also a valued source of important nutrition at food banks and pantries. The dairy community’s contribution to these programs is more important than ever. Milk and dairy foods will continue to be valued as a solution to address the social, emotional and physical impacts of food insecurity.

As systems are modified to foster health and well-being of people and communities, priority is being placed on assuring that health, education and economic inequities are resolved. 

Within the health care field, a growing shortage of physicians and other providers is expected to continue over the next 15 years. Moreover, Black and Hispanic doctors continue to be underrepresented.¹³ In the field of dietetics, the demographics of registered dietitian nutritionists do not match the populations served. These issues can culminate in consequences that potentially harm vulnerable populations, such as reduced access to health care, lower quality treatment and reduced ability to build rapport among patient and provider.¹⁴  

Anticipation for the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released every five years, has also raised the issue of diversity and equity within public health systems. There have been growing calls for nutrition guidelines to meet the needs of a country that is increasingly diverse by building in messaging that includes foods that are culturally relevant across different racial and ethnic groups. There are also calls for the dietary guidelines to be more inclusive of disadvantaged and minority groups, including those with chronic diseases. The Dietary Guidelines is currently intended for the general population of healthy individuals; however, the majority of Americans have multiple chronic diseases. Currently, six in 10 American adults have a chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease or obesity, while four in 10 Americans have two or more chronic conditions.³ These health disparities are felt more by people of color and within socio-economically disadvantaged communities. In its recent report, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee addressed the need for future guidelines and research to reflect the diversity of the nation and to address issues around implementing guidelines to include more of a focus on food access and nutrition education. The report emphasizes that the guidelines are not intended to be a prescriptive dietary formula but rather an adaptable framework that can meet many cultures, budgets and preferences.³ 

The education systems that teach children are also community hubs, working to address the inequities many families face. School leaders are looking to approach social, emotional and academic development through an equity lens by creating learning environments that consider the needs of the whole child. The consequences of these interrelated crises can also impact the long-term health and well-being of teachers, leading for calls to prioritize teacher wellness. With the shift to virtual learning, parents are now playing a larger role in their children’s education, which can create opportunities to strengthen the relationship between schools and families. 

Implication: Dairy foods have been an important part of cultures around the globe for centuries, contributing to healthy eating patterns and family traditions for generations. The dairy agricultural sector, including producers and processors, can continue to play an integral role in providing nutritious foods while meeting the diverse needs within their communities.

Accelerated by COVID-19, rapid evolution and adoption of technology has changed how business is done. Remote environments will fundamentally change education, health and business infrastructures.

The 21st century has brought many advances in technology that significantly shaped the landscape of every aspect of how humans operate across the globe. However, with an unparalleled pandemic keeping most people at home, technology is changing the way individuals connect in all aspects of their lives. In all sectors, including business, education, health and others, individuals are adapting to the many pandemic-related disruptions, and technology is facilitating that change. 

Businesses and schools across the state, nation and world rapidly adopted virtual learning and telecommuting at the start of the pandemic. Both large and small businesses have shifted operations as employees work remotely from home. Many are evaluating possible long-term benefits such as cost savings in rent or the ability to recruit talented employees without being limited by location. Schools have also been grappling with distance learning while figuring out how to address the technological divide experienced by low-income students. This has led to non-traditional partnerships and support from large businesses and tech companies, providing schools with the technological resources and support that are critical to teaching children under these new conditions.  

In health care, telehealth overcame barriers that have long prevented provider and patient participation. Telehealth is the use of telecommunications technology for remote health care delivery, such as video visits with a doctor, email communications with a clinician or use of mobile health apps. In 2019, only 11% of Americans used telehealth. However, with most of the country sheltering in place, patients have embraced virtual health care, with 46% of consumers now using telehealth in 2020.¹⁵ Telehealth isn’t new, but barriers formerly existed that made it difficult for widespread adoption; these included state regulations and policy-related barriers such as limited reimbursement for telehealth providers and inconsistent licensure regulations. The pandemic has led many insurers and programs, including Medicare, commercial and private payers and some Medicaid programs, to temporarily modify policies and rules to expand access to telehealth. While some barriers such as lack of high-speed internet access for rural communities still exist, the quick transformation of access to health care through technology may be long-lasting.

Implication: The novel coronavirus brought both uncertainty and change to work, school and health care environments. Though the question of what will be a permanent part of society is unknown, it is likely that many changes will affect people well past the end of the pandemic. This makes collaboration between sectors critical for developing solutions to meet the technology needs of a rapidly changing society.

Consumer purchasing and eating behaviors have shifted and continue to evolve amid the pandemic.

The far-reaching impacts of the pandemic have shifted the way consumers are eating and what they are purchasing. According to a survey by the International Food Information Council, more than eight in 10 Americans have altered their food habits as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.¹ The most common changes include cooking more at home, increased snacking, eating healthier than usual and thinking about and eating more food than usual. 

Plant-based foods sales, including meat and cheese alternatives, tempeh and tofu, have outpaced total food retail sales during the pandemic.¹⁶ According to a survey by Mintel, more than half of consumers are looking for a greater variety when it comes to plant-based proteins.¹⁷ However, the same survey found that despite growing interest in plant-based foods, the majority of those who state they eat meat believe that animal-source meat is the best source of protein. Furthermore, consumers who identify as flexitarians, pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans agreed that animal meat is the best source of protein. Regardless, with more time spent at home and less time eating out, consumers are shifting the way they think about food. 

Food insecurity across income levels is rising and drastically shifting the way individuals and families access food. Across the country, there is a surging need for aid at food banks and food pantries as Americans face unemployment and economic crises not seen in this generation. The number of people relying on food pantries has increased 150% compared with before the pandemic.¹⁸ According to a report by Feeding America, it is estimated that one in four children—an equivalent of 18 million—may need food aid this year.¹¹ Federal food programs have also required significant expansion. Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, grew 17% in the first three months of the pandemic.¹⁹ Additionally, Amazon expanded its program for SNAP, allowing 90% of SNAP households to order groceries online²⁰, as overall online food purchases grew amid the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic also led to increased enrollment in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, a trend that many experts think will persist for years.

Implication: Consumers’ heightened interest in food purchases and health, combined with a shift in eating habits, creates a meaningful opportunity for nutrition education. Dairy Council of California works to educate on the important role of nutrient-dense foods like milk and dairy foods, especially as they are readily available to vulnerable populations through federal meal programs.

Extreme environmental conditions and disasters have accelerated the prioritization of climate change solutions.

The continuation of extreme weather events such as wildfires and poor air quality, as well as environmental conditions like water scarcity, have heightened the urgency to address climate change. Furthermore, the pandemic and its consequential impacts on multiple aspects of health and equity exposed the need to broaden the dialogue around climate change. Multiple crises across the United States have unveiled the interconnectivity of environmental, health, economic and social issues that relate to climate change. Finding solutions to address the larger, interconnected issues of climate change will take cross-sector collaboration. Those who work in food systems and agriculture play a key role in finding solutions that support the health of populations and the planet. 

Together, extreme environmental events and the pandemic have disproportionately affected vulnerable populations. The health of these communities can be severely impacted by the disadvantages they face, and it is important to address these disparities while also addressing the health of the planet. Elevating the role of nutrient-dense foods in meeting the health needs of populations while also contributing to sustainable solutions is critical. Environmental crises lead to negative impacts on water, air, soil and biodiversity that worsen the nutritional prospects of vulnerable communities, particularly children, by limiting access to high-quality foods.²¹ The food and agriculture sectors, through collaboration, can address sustainability by building solutions that will not only reduce their environmental footprint but also provide access to nutrient-dense foods so that communities can thrive. 

Implication: Climate change solutions for an equitable and sustainable food system should address the critical elements of health and nutrition, culture, environment and economics. Milk and dairy foods contribute to healthy eating patterns, especially for people who experience food insecurity. The innovations of the dairy agricultural community to reduce environmental impact are yielding significant results, leading the way in regenerative agricultural systems, providing nutrient-dense foods to those who need them, and contributing to the economic livelihoods and health of local communities.