Unlocking challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19 pandemic for cross-cutting disruption in agri-food and green deal innovations: Quo Vadis?

Abstract

COVID -19 pandem ic is on a trajectory to cause catastrophic global upheaval with the potential to alter geopolitical and socio -economic norms. Many countries are frantically responding with staggering financial stimulus recovery initiatives. This opinion -paper reviews challenges, opportunities , and potential solutions for the post -COVID -19 era that focuses on intensive sustaining of agri -food supply chain in tandem with meeting the high demand for new green deal innovation. For example, the development of wet peatland innovation , known as Paludiculture, can intensively sustain and blend agri -food and green innovations that will help support COVID -19 pandemic transitioning. The future looks bright for the creation of new sustainability multi -actor innovation hubs that will support, connect , and enable businesses to recover and pivot beyond the COVID -19 pandemic . The nexus between first ‘Green Deal’ initiative supporting 64 selected European Startups and SMEs (European Innovation Council ) and 48 Irish Disruptive Technology projects are addressed in the context of cross -cutting developments and relevance to COVID -19. Candidate areas for future consideration will focus on climate action, digitization, manufacturing, and sustainable food production, security, and waste mitigation . Recommendations are also provided to facilitate community transitioning, training, enterprise , and employment to low carbon economy.