Finland is ready for the next crisis, with stockpiled food and 72-hour kits – Europe should be too | Miika Ilomäki

IN of crisis, food is more than subsistence. It is a pillar of national stability. Finland has long understood this, not only because of politics, but because of who we are and where we live. Geography, a gentle continental climate and our history have shaped a state of mind where preparation is essential. In a country with a vast territory, a sparse population and long distances between communities, resilience must be integrated into everything we do.

This understanding is deeply rooted in our society, in individual households as much as government institutions. Today, Finland’s approach to preparation is rightly considered a model for Europe. But this is not a unique solution. What works for Finland, such as our high levels of food self -sufficiency, solid institutions and a culture of cooperation, may not work elsewhere. However, our experience offers precious lessons. The preparation must be proactive, inclusive and deeply integrated into the national strategy.

My work at the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) means that I spend a large part of my time thinking about what could be wrong – and more importantly, how we can prepare Finland when it would. Whether we face a pandemic, cyber attack or geopolitical shock, our work consists in ensuring that the country can continue to function, feed and protect its people. The Pandemic and the COVID-19 war in Ukraine have shown how fragile world systems can be.

One of the angular stones of our national resilience is the strategic cereal reserve system. These reserves include wheat, oats, barley and rye, the grains that are at the heart of our agriculture and our diet. Stored in secure installations across the country, they are turned using the FIFO method (first in, first outing) to maintain quality and ensure that older grains are used before the most recent. These reservations are designed to maintain the population for nine months in the event of global collapse of the supply chain or interior production disruption. During the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, they helped reassure the public.

Finland’s food self -sufficiency is around 80%. This means that we produce most of the foods we consume, which is a rare achievement in the interconnected world today. It is thanks to our farmers, who operate more than 40,000 farms on a national scale. In 2024, agricultural production was the main activity of 74% of farms, while breeding was practiced on 20%. The average farm size is 56 hectares. Despite a short growth season and a limited variety of crops, our agricultural sector is effective, innovative and supported by strong infrastructure. These farms are the backbone of our food system and their role in national security cannot be overestimated.

We have even developed our own rapeseed cultivar, Auréa CL, specifically adapted to the Nordic climate. It helps to ensure that rapeseed oil and protein -rich foods produced at the national level remain available even in times of crisis. This type of innovation reflects our long -term commitment to resilience.

But the preparation does not only concern stocks and production. These are systems that can adapt and continue to operate under stress. Finland’s food supply chain is resilient by design. The government works in close collaboration with producers, processors, retailers and logistics companies to ensure continuity. Emergency plans are in place to redirect deliveries and prioritize essential goods. We also maintain emergency fuel reserves to maintain agricultural machines and food transport in progress during crises.

A key element of our strategy is public-private partnerships. In Nesa, we collaborate with companies in the food sector, grain mills with supermarket chains. Together, we develop emergency plans, organize joint exercises and share information. This cooperation is not only a policy. This is the way things are done. Companies understand their role in national preparation and take it seriously.

The preparation also starts at home. In Finland, the preparation for household level is essential. One of our most effective tools is the 72 -hour model, which encourages each household to be self -sufficient: having enough food and bottled water (five liters per person) for three days. We advise to have a stock of dry foods that are well maintained, such as nuts or dried fruits. Our emergency food kit control list at home includes items such as a first aid kit, iodine tablets, battery radio, a torch, an electric bank, a portable stove, toilet paper and adhesive tape.

Promoted through public information campaigns, the model has proven its value during pandemics, winter storms and cyber-incidents.

The European food system is strongly interconnected and vulnerable to external shocks. Aside from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, drought in southern Europe and the world’s disruption of expedition have shown what things can collapse. The climate crisis adds another risk layer. The approach of Finland offers a roadmap. Strategic reserves, high domestic production, public-private cooperation and preparation at household level are all essential elements of a robust food system.