Malta and food security

Two days of bad weather is all it took for supermarket shelves in Malta to empty out, after ferry services from Sicily were halted. Around 70% of our food is imported and our supply chains are one storm away from disruption.

The Financial Times this week reported on a global shift where nations are stockpiling food at a fast pace, preparing for prolonged instability.

Finland is extending grain reserves from 6 to 9 months.

Sweden is spending €60m to stockpile grain, seeds and fertiliser.

China is spending $18bn annually on stockpiling, with reserves covering over a year.

India's rice reserves hit 58 million tonnes in December.

Indonesia has nearly doubled its rice stocks since late 2024.

Egypt expanded storage to 6 million tonnes, while Bangladesh is stockpiling fertiliser, diesel and edible oil along with grains.

The era of assuming global supply chains will always deliver is over. Climate change, export restrictions, and geopolitical tensions have made food a strategic asset again, and in Malta we should keep this in perspective.