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The coronavirus hit to food supply chains

With a crisis in America's food chain we hear personal stories from across the nation.

US president Trump has outlined his plans for "Operation Warp Speed", which aims to expedite development of a coronavirus vaccine, as political reporter Erin Delmore explains. Meanwhile, the virus is causing a crisis in America's food chains and we hear personal stories from across the nation. Many meat processing plants are closed due to coronavirus outbreaks, and Minnesota pig farmer Mike Patterson tells us he has thousands of pigs ready for market, which may end up having to be destroyed. Epidemiologist Tara Smith of Kent State University in Ohio explains why meat processing plants have been so prone to Covid-19. And with President Trump trying to use executive powers to force their reopening, Mark Lauritsen, meatpackers representative at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, discusses concerns that will put workers' lives at risk. Plus, we explore whether musicians who have had to cancel tours as a result of coronavirus stand a chance of recouping lost income through music sales and streaming. And we'll have a view on the US markets from Chris Low of FHN Financial in New York.

(Picture: Pigs on a farm in Minnesota. Picture credit: Reuters.)

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27 minutes

Last on

Fri 15 May 2020 21:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Fri 15 May 2020 21:32GMT