ABSTRACT
The food system must be regarded as critical infrastructure, from farmers to consumers, via sowing, growing, harvesting, storage, transportation, processing, packaging, and marketing. Various hazards may endanger the food system, including droughts and floods, pandemics, economic and political crises, revolution and war. Since ancient times, cereal grains and pulses (legumes), which can be stored dry for a long period, have been the most important part of our daily food. Most countries were basically self-sufficient in food grain production until the first half of the twentieth century. However, today more than 100 nations are permanently dependent on food imports to have enough food for their citizens. Less than 10 countries produce food grains significantly beyond their own internal requirements. Significant food reserves do not exist in the world, while the volume of food grains available on the world market is limited. Severe droughts in China and India, the two most populous countries in the world, as well as other hazards, may cause large global grain yield reductions at some time in the future. Then the global demand for food imports may rise far beyond the amount of food grains available for sale. Very steep price rises and food shortages may lead to large-scale famine. Even financial reserves do not guarantee food grain imports! Therefore, contingency planning is needed to establish significant food grain reserves in each country. Moreover, the local farming sector should be stimulated and safeguarded.