Food Security Faces New Reckoning Worldwide

Access to food could increasingly depend on politics

In June, the Norwegian government signed an emergency plan to weather the country through future disruptions, from geopolitics to climate change: it would build a grain stockpile. The Norwegian finance minister, Slagsvold Vedum, referred to the plan as “being prepared for the unthinkable.” Starting with 30,000 tonnes of grain stored in vaults across the country, Norway wants to have 82,500 tonnes by 2029, enough to last the country three months.

All of this grain will come from overseas, as Norway produces just one million tonnes of grain per year.

For Norway, the uptick in geopolitical activity is not a fad. It is a permanent, structural change in the world. Coupled with a deteriorating global climate, Norway is realizing that food security could be derailed by global events in the blink of an eye.

Waiting for that to happen is not an option.

Alongside energy, technology (e.g. chips), and water, fears are growing around food disruptions.