However, former director of Norske Felleskjøp, Lars Fredrik Stuve, believes that the legislation is too late and that the stock is too small. – I think that it is far too little and that it is going far too slowly, he says to news. – The government must be positive that they start the work, but I am very worried that if we have now managed to build up an emergency stockpile of 30,000 tonnes before the next election, then it is almost just a joke compared to what it should have been, he adds. Lars Fredrik Stuve. Photo: Rune Christoffer Holm Stuve believes the government should have agreed to store for at least six months, and that the warehouse should contain 100,000 tonnes of grain. – Why is it so difficult to understand the importance of preparedness and prioritize it politically? I have a hard time understanding that, he says. – Our insurance premium The plan is to have a three-month contingency stock of food grains, Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp) tells news. The reason is security, adds Vedum. Vedum says to news that it must be assessed whether three months is sufficient eventually. Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp). Photo: Malin Nygård Solberg Vedum points to potential challenges such as difficulties in the market, bad climate, war, nuclear accidents and other events that cause disruptions in the supply chain. – It is, in a way, our insurance premium. When we see the uncertainty surrounding the food supply in recent years, I think it is wise that this is also part of our preparedness policy, says Vedum. Set aside 63 million The plan is for larger players, such as Felleskjøpet, to store grain on behalf of the country. Vedum says that a tender will be set up, where the players can make offers on the price for storage. Vedum believes that this is a reasonable solution, while at the same time it creates security. – In the first year, we will fill the warehouse. Afterwards, it must be maintained, says Vedum and adds: – The point is that we must have a three-month contingency stock of food grain that enables us to empty those stocks when we need to. He explains to NTB that next year 15,000 tonnes of grain will be put in storage, and that until 2028-2029 a warehouse will be built up year by year, in order to reach the goal of three months’ readiness. In the proposal for the state budget for next year, NOK 63 million has been set aside for the emergency stockpile. Towards the end of the decade, 82,500 tonnes of cooking wheat should be in the house, writes NTB. Recommends six months’ use The ministers refer to the Total Preparedness Commission’s report from February, which recommends setting up a grain warehouse. But in the report, the commission writes that the Directorate of Agriculture initially recommends a grain stock of six months’ consumption. Norway has had grain storage for a long time, but it was phased out in 2003, according to NTB.
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Norway sets up emergency storage for grain – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
