Abstract
This is a summary of a comparative study of the national policies to foster the agri-food industry implemented by the leading countries of the industry before and after the COVID-19-induced global economic crisis. By comparing the policies of each country, we discovered that key leading countries of the agri-food industry had given up or suspended one-on-one, face-to-face support programs that they had maintained for years, and have started providing financial assistance to companies or self-employed people in relative industries. Korea should implement such decisive policies for the Korean agri-food industry to tackle this unprecedented economic shrink and maintain the competitiveness of the industry. Considering the scale and speed of the spreading of the pandemic, the new policies should be implemented swiftly and boldly. This study can be used as a base material for developing new policies to minimize damage to the agri-food industry and national economy caused by COVID-19.