Everyone should grow two percent of their own food

The events in Ukraine put food security on the agenda. The most important thing is that the farmers now have the framework to produce as much as possible, and that the authorities have emergency stocks and emergency plans for the distribution of food in the population.

All residents should also contribute with a small production of their own.

On a balcony, a flat roof, in a garden or on a leased plot of land, herbs, potatoes or vegetables can be produced. The measure will at the same time be able to provide work training, knowledge transfer, community across generations as well as respect for soil, micro-life, nature and biology. Harvesting fruits and berries and hunting and fishing contain the ingredients experience and food supply.

The reasons for the call, range from working communities and increased knowledge about plants and animals, to emergency preparedness and social security. To be self-sufficient equivalent to one week per year could be an ambitious goal for many.

Food is knowledge. Thousands of years of experience, simple or advanced cultivation techniques and modern research, everything is needed to supply the world with food. Food production affects the environment, the use of chemicals, erosion and nutrient management. Through your own small own production, a platform is built to be able to participate in the exchange of opinions and understand issues related to food production.

To succeed, you need a suitable place, soil with the right PH, access to nutrients, seeds / seed potatoes, equipment and experience are required. All this will be in short supply in a crisis. Those who are already up and running will automatically focus on how they can increase their production. This is a positive reaction compared to panic and putting all the energy into running the fastest to the store.

With self-produced food, you are involved in history, culture, knowledge, tradition and joy.

The world already has a food crisis. If there is no food shortage in Norway, the reason is our strong purchasing power, which ensures that we get what we need at the expense of poorer countries. In solidarity, we should now seek to buy as little as possible of what we need from abroad.

In theory, Norway could well have done with significantly less food imports, if nothing was thrown away, if everyone ate a little less, and if all food was distributed equally. In practice, reduced access to food will create conflict and major challenges in relation to distribution and waste. Self-produced food, even to a small extent, will have a great added value in that this production has already been distributed among the population.

Droughts and floods have challenged global food production in 2021 and into 2022. The supply of fertilizers has deteriorated sharply due to higher gas prices and logistics challenges. On top of this comes the crisis in Ukraine. There will therefore now be famines.

Should there be an increase in food prices in Norway as well, which makes what we have seen of energy prices appear a trifle, being self-sufficient in potatoes, vegetables or jams a few weeks a year will appear as a particularly useful family activity.

A meal is community, dissemination of food tradition and sometimes a memorable cultural experience. With self-produced food, you are involved in history, culture, knowledge, tradition and joy. Your motivation can be the joy of being able to serve something distinctive and unique for everyday or a party, that gives pride and humility, community and gratitude.

However, the underlying and more serious question is: How will you help produce a small share of the world's food?