Norwegian government creates grain reserves

The Norwegian government signed an agreement to stockpile grain on June 25, saying the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Europe and climate change made it necessary, the Associated Press reported. The agreement to store 30,000 tons of grain was signed by the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food and four private companies.

The grain, which will be owned by the Norwegian government, will be stored by companies at facilities across the country, according to a report by the Associated Press. The goal, he said, is to have 82,500 tons of grain in storage by the end of the decade, “enough for three months of consumption” in the event of a crisis.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norway set up a commission to assess its emergency preparedness, and one of the conclusions was that it would be wise to stockpile grain.

Norway itself produces just over 1 million tons of grain a year and imports about the same amount to feed its 5.4 million inhabitants.