Austria's food supply: Emergency plan for blackout shock!

Austria's food supply: Emergency plan for blackout shock!

After a recent mega blackout in Spain, the provision of power failures in Austria becomes particularly important. The energy industry has developed a uniform strategy to secure food supply in the event of a crisis. Although the current energy and food supply is secured, the food retail trade requires further crisis prevention measures. In coordination with the trade association of the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), emergency plans for the food trade were developed in order to be able to react quickly to a possible blackout.

On the first day of a blackout, grocery stores remain closed to take necessary precautions. From the second day, special sacks with fresh products from various retailers such as Spar, Hofer and Billa will be output. These sacks are distributed in a fixed period from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The content of the sacks cannot be chosen for logistical reasons, and entering the business is also not permitted. From the third day of the crisis, the output is limited to dry foods to ensure food safety.

necessary crisis provision and self -sufficiency

The Austrian food industry faces the challenge of securing the basic supply of the population. A report by the Court of Auditors draws attention to the inadequate preparation of Austria for food crises and recommends the development of emergency plans. It is emphasized that in the event of a power failure, the cold chain could be significantly disturbed, which endangers the availability of fresh food. In this context, the self -supply of the population is crucial. Private households should be used with food for at least 14 days in order to be prepared for possible crises.

In addition, it is recommended to keep cash of around 100 euros per family member or the double of the weekly shopping in small pieces at home in order to be able to react to possible restrictions in payment transactions. Ensuring food supply is also important at the local level. Municipalities should plan coordination measures to optimize and avoid the use of inventory.

European perspectives

At the European level, the European Commission has accepted an emergency plan for food supply. The aim is to avoid food bottlenecks in crisis situations and to improve coordination between the Member States. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, emphasizes the need for close cooperation between the public and private sector in order to be better prepared for future crises. The plan enables the establishment of a European mechanism for crisis and crisis reaction in the field of nutritional security (EFSCM).

This mechanism will bring experts to coordinate the food supply chain in order to exchange data and strategies. Findings from Covid-19 pandemic illustrate the resilience of the food industry, but there are still risks from climate change and other geopolitical factors. The emergency plan therefore promotes a cooperative approach to ensure the safety of food supply in crisis situations.

The population is asked to actively prepare to minimize the effects of a potential blackout. The importance of one's own self -sufficiency and the consideration of the challenges to be expected during a crisis are crucial for coping with the crisis.

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