Netherlands researchers urge eight-day emergency food stockpiling

A study conducted by the Clingendael Institute and Erasmus University, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, suggests that citizens in the Netherlands should increase their emergency food supplies from three days to eight days.

The research highlights vulnerabilities in the national food supply chain, noting that supermarkets and distributors maintain low inventory levels to minimize costs. This efficiency could become a liability during crises. Specifically, the report warns that a cyberattack on supermarket systems could lead to empty shelves within approximately three days. Other risks include severe weather events, such as heavy rainfall and flooding, which could disrupt transportation and access to stores, as well as prolonged power outages.

Experts recommend that households stock high-calorie, long-lasting foods that can be consumed without cooking, such as canned beans, to prepare for scenarios where electricity may be unavailable. The report emphasizes that individual preparedness is a critical component of national resilience against various crisis scenarios.