Rando Värnik is a professor at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. He says that food is as important for security as bullets. During a crisis, it is important that we have enough food. Every family should be equipped with a seven-day supply of food.
Food security means that all people have access to food, regardless of their wealth. Food must be accessible and nutritious. Rando Värnik studies how entrepreneurs in rural areas manage. He also looks at how Estonian companies compete with companies from other countries.
Rando Värnik gives Estonian rural life three minuses. He says that we have not paid enough attention to rural areas. Estonia has a lot of fields, but we are not using them well enough. Companies are struggling due to bureaucracy. We need to produce healthy and safe food.
In Estonia, we produce more milk and grain than we consume. But we are doing poorly with meat and eggs. During a crisis, we need to eat simple food, such as bread and milk. We need to think about how to preserve food. For example, milk can be turned into powder.
Rando Värnik recommends that every family should be equipped with a seven-day supply of food. Supplies should include, for example, cereals, rice, buckwheat, pasta, milk powder, and canned goods. There should also be dried seeds and nuts. We do not produce coffee in Estonia, but during a crisis, we can drink tea.
In Estonia, there is a grain reserve that covers a month and a half's needs. During a crisis, we need to think about how food reaches people. Finland is a good example of a country that is prepared for a crisis. We should have more domestic food. Everyone should think about how to stock up on food for themselves.